Power to the People: On the Role of Districts in Decentralized Energy Systems

Jonas Schnidrig (), Arthur Chuat, Cédric Terrier, François Maréchal and Manuele Margni
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Jonas Schnidrig: Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering Group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Arthur Chuat: Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering Group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Cédric Terrier: Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering Group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
François Maréchal: Industrial Process and Energy Systems Engineering Group, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Rue de l’Industrie 17, 1950 Sion, Switzerland
Manuele Margni: CIRAIG, Institute for Sustainable Energy, University of Applied Sciences Western Switzerland, Rue de l’Industrie 21, 1950 Sion, Switzerland

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 7, 1-38

Abstract: The transition towards renewable and decentralized energy systems is propelled by the urgent need to address climate concerns and advance sustainable development globally. This transformation requires innovative methods to integrate stochastic renewable sources such as solar and wind power and challenging traditional energy paradigms rooted in centralized and continuous energy production. The present study focuses on the Swiss energy system to explore the optimization of energy planning strategies that incorporate decentralized energy production within a centralized framework. Here, we show that a strategic approach to decentralization can significantly reduce annual system costs by 10% to CHF 1230 per capita and increase self-consumption to 68% of the decentralized PV production, emphasizing the need for a hybrid energy-planning model that balances centralized and decentralized models for enhanced system resilience, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. This research underscores the strategic importance of diversifying energy sources, enhancing energy storage, improving grid flexibility, and laying a foundational framework for policy making and strategic planning. It encourages further investigation into climate impacts, technology synergy, and the integration of district heating, aiming to establish a resilient, sustainable, and autonomous energy future.

Keywords: energy system optimization; renewable energy; decentralization; self-consumption; renewable energy hub; carbon neutrality; energy independence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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