The implementation of certain European Union (EU) directives into Italian national legislation through several legislative decrees has catalyzed the establishment of energy communities in Italy. In this context, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), in its capacity as a public research body, has developed a model of support aimed at facilitating the involvement of national stakeholders in the formation of energy communities. Smart Energy Communities (SECs), representing the evolution of both energy and smart communities, are seen as a convergence of these paradigms and as an enhancement of their proactive components. This study examines several technological solutions proposed by the ENEA model, which are instrumental in supporting the advancement of SECs. It also provides an overview of the key tools—either operational or under development—designed to fulfill the objectives of the model. The ENEA model places particular emphasis on fostering citizen engagement in energy-related matters, as well as on evaluating the progress of energy communities through both energy-specific metrics and broader social and environmental considerations. Through these innovations, the role of SECs as drivers of local energy transitions is reinforced, ensuring that the socio-economic and environmental benefits extend beyond the mere technical infrastructure of energy systems.
Open Access
emilio sessa 
, lorenza di pilla , roberta rincione , alberto brunetti , francesco guarino , maurizio cellura , sonia longo , eleonora riva sanseverino |
Available online: 12-29-2024
Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) represent a crucial component of the energy transition and the development of climate-neutral urban environments. Given their significance, ongoing refinement in the definition and implementation of PEDs is essential. An in-depth analysis of the key characteristics of PEDs and the central role of stakeholders in their planning and modelling was presented in this study. The analysis encompasses five primary technological domains: energy efficiency, energy flexibility, e-mobility, soft mobility, and low-carbon generation. Both the enablers and barriers within a holistic framework, which integrates sustainability, as well as both tangible and intangible quality attributes, were identified. Key enabling factors, such as financial, social, innovation, and governance aspects, were examined to illustrate their impact on the successful implementation of PEDs. A co-creation process, highlighted as an essential outcome, contributes to a more refined understanding of the state of the art in PED design and implementation. In addition to the technical dimensions, the social, ecological, and cultural factors were shown to play a significant role, underscoring the importance of stakeholder engagement in achieving urban decarbonization. It can be concluded that a multidimensional approach, which incorporates not only technological innovations but also socio-ecological considerations, is necessary to effectively address the challenges inherent in the deployment of PEDs.
The development and implementation of a national geoportal designed to optimize the planning and management of integrated Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) is presented in this study. This innovative tool facilitates the identification of optimal energy system configurations by selecting available renewable resources and technologies and determining community membership based on assigned input parameters. These parameters include electrical load profiles, energy prices, renewable resource availability, technological characteristics, socio-economic conditions, and territorial constraints. A multi-objective optimization framework was employed to address energy, economic, environmental, and social priorities simultaneously. The methodology adopts a place-based approach, enabling the application of energy management and optimization models tailored to the specific characteristics of each case study and the corresponding input data. The proposed geoportal incorporates features such as flexibility, scalability, and applicability to real-world territorial contexts, while providing decision support to regional planners and stakeholders. Scalability was achieved through the integration and management of spatial and temporal datasets across varying scales. The study evaluates five scenarios, including the maximum renewable energy potential utilizing solar, wind, and biomass renewable energy sources (RES) technologies, and two REC scenarios emphasizing photovoltaic (PV) energy sharing between sectors, residential prosumers, and consumers. Performance metrics and indexes were employed to assess the energy, economic, environmental, and social benefits of RES generation, distribution, and sharing. The findings indicate that REC scenarios featuring energy sharing achieve higher levels of self-consumption and self-sufficiency compared to isolated configurations. Future iterations of the geoportal aim to extend its application to additional territories, thereby enhancing the self-sufficiency of Territorial Energy Communities (TECs) and advancing sustainable energy practices on a broader scale.
The European Union has introduced Renewable Energy Communities as a key component of its strategy to transform the energy sector, aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This study presents case studies of Renewable Energy Communities based on numerical and experimental investigations across various application fields in Italy, highlighting different types of stakeholders and energy configurations. The implementation of RECs is subject to a range of challenges, including diverse procedural requirements, stakeholder roles, and legal and technical constraints, which must be addressed to secure approval from national authorities. The first case study examines a photovoltaic-based energy community in Southern Italy, designed to mitigate energy poverty by supporting families unable to meet their essential energy needs. A second case study explores the benefits of a Renewable Energy Community in the industrial area of Benevento (South of Italy), which integrates a mixed-use building with an industrial wastewater treatment plant, focusing on energy sharing and environmental sustainability. The final case study investigates a Renewable Energy Community that incorporates electric vehicle charging stations, demonstrating its potential to enhance their diffusion on the territory and increase the community's self-consumption rate. Overall, the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community provides superior outcomes compared to conventional configurations of end-users regardless of the application field or the typology of members, from an energy, environmental and economic viewpoint, with additional positive outcomes possible depending on local circumstances.
District heating (DH) systems in Europe predominantly belong to the second and third generations, operating at temperatures often exceeding 100℃, which poses challenges for integrating renewable energy sources (RES). The feasibility of incorporating large-scale groundwater heat pumps into such systems was explored in this study, with a focus on adjusting the supply water temperature to thermal substations. This adjustment, achieved by lowering the temperature below design values in response to rising outdoor temperatures, facilitated the integration of RES and improved system efficiency. Additionally, groundwater or geothermal heat pumps enabled the effective utilisation of waste heat (WH) from industrial processes or excess heat from renewable sources, particularly during periods when the thermal demand of the DH system was insufficient to justify direct supply. This excess heat, once collected, can be stored in the ground and later retrieved for use during the heating season, contributing to the system's overall sustainability. The integration of seasonal thermal storage further enhances the operational flexibility of DH systems by allowing for the balancing of supply and demand over extended periods. The findings underscore the technical viability and environmental benefits of such integration, providing a pathway for the modernisation of DH infrastructure and the advancement of energy transition goals.
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