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Techno-Economic Analysis of an Energy Community Based on PV and Electric Storage Systems in a Small Mountain Locality of South Italy: A Case Study

Daniela Cirone (), Roberto Bruno, Piero Bevilacqua, Stefania Perrella and Natale Arcuri
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Daniela Cirone: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci 46/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Roberto Bruno: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci 46/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Piero Bevilacqua: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci 46/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Stefania Perrella: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci 46/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy
Natale Arcuri: Mechanical, Energy and Management Engineering Department, University of Calabria, V. P. Bucci 46/C, 87036 Arcavacata di Rende, CS, Italy

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 21, 1-14

Abstract: The ecological transition at the centre of the United Nations 2030 Agenda and the relevant EU policies are increasingly becoming an emerging issue in the political choices of most countries. It is an important challenge to ensure sustainable development and overcome the issue of energy supply. Italy produces 35% of its electricity consumption, a too low percentage that obligates the nation to purchase abroad to cover the overall needs. Energy communities can represent an interesting and viable option for businesses and citizens struggling with the abrupt rising of energy prices. In community energy systems, the energy demand of a group of households or public services is met by electricity collectively generated through renewable sources and this feature is particularly suggested in small towns to promote social benefits and environmental advantages. In this work, possible scenarios of an implementable energy community were investigated for the small mountain municipality of Soveria Mannelli, located in Southern Italy. A building stock made of four public edifices was used as a reference case for which heating needs were determined by dynamic simulations based on the EN ISO 52016-1 procedure. Other simulations carried out in the TRNSYS environment allowed for implementing different schemes of the energy community considering diverse building interaction modes, in which photovoltaic generators and electric batteries cooperate to supply heat pump systems to assure the maximum share of self-consumed electric energy. Indeed, this paper is targeted at the identification of the best solution in terms of technical and economic performance. Despite an evident study limitation is represented by the exclusive use of PV and electric storage systems, the results demonstrate a potential CO 2 emission reduction of over 80%. The more profitable solution for the Municipality was identified with an NPV of 11 k€ in 20 years with appreciable payback.

Keywords: renewable energy community; energy demand; dynamic simulation; TRNSYS; electrical storage; self-consumption; NPV; CO 2 emission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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