The City as a Power Hub for Boosting Renewable Energy Communities: A Case Study in Naples

Giuseppe Aruta, Fabrizio Ascione (), Romano Fistola and Teresa Iovane
Additional contact information
Giuseppe Aruta: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Fabrizio Ascione: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Romano Fistola: Department of Civil, Building and Environmental Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy
Teresa Iovane: Department of Industrial Engineering, Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Piazzale Tecchio 80, 80125 Napoli, Italy

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-22

Abstract: This study introduces an innovative methodology for designing sustainable urban energy districts using Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The scope is to identify specific parts of the urban fabric, suitable for becoming energy districts that can meet the energy needs of dwellings and activities and produce an energy surplus for the city. The method uses building archetypes to characterize the districts and perform simulations through an algorithm based on correction coefficients considering variables such as total building height, exposure, year of construction, and building typology. By leveraging GIS, this approach supports the creation of urban energy maps, which help identify and address potential energy-related issues in various urban contexts. Additionally, the research explores different scenarios for developing energy communities within the district, aiming to optimize energy use and distribution. A case study in Naples, Southern Italy, demonstrates that installing photovoltaic panels on the roofs of buildings can allow a complete electrical supply to the building stock. The final goal is to provide a robust tool that enhances confidence in urban energy planning decisions, contributing to more sustainable and efficient energy management at the district level. This approach may support the urban and territorial governance towards sustainable solutions by developing strategies for the creation of energy communities and optimizing the potential of specific sites.

Keywords: urban energy districts; energy performance; urban planning; sustainable urban growth; buildings optimization; decarbonization (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/7988/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/7988/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:18:p:7988-:d:1476961

Access Statistics for this article

Sustainability is currently edited by Ms. Alexandra Wu

More articles in Sustainability from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().