IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jeners/v13y2020i10p2545-d359345.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Energy, Environmental and Economic Performance of an Urban Community Hybrid Distributed Energy System

Author

Listed:
  • Alberto Fichera

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy)

  • Elisa Marrasso

    (DING, Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Maurizio Sasso

    (DING, Department of Engineering, University of Sannio, 82100 Benevento, Italy)

  • Rosaria Volpe

    (Department of Electrical, Electronics and Computer Engineering, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy)

Abstract

Energy systems face great challenges from both the supply and demand sides. Strong efforts have been devoted to investigate technological solutions aiming at overcoming the problems of fossil fuel depletion and the environmental issues due to the carbon emissions. Hybrid (activated by both renewables and fossil fuels) distributed energy systems can be considered a very effective and promising technology to replace traditional centralized energy systems. As a most peculiar characteristic, they reduce the use of fossil sources and transmission and distribution losses along the main power grid and contribute to electric peak shaving and partial-loads losses reduction. As a direct consequence, the transition from centralized towards hybrid decentralized energy systems leads to a new role for citizens, shifting from a passive energy consumer to active prosumers able to produce energy and distribute energy. Such a complex system needs to be carefully modelled to account for the energy interactions with prosumers, local microgrids and main grids. Thus, the aim of this paper is to investigate the performance of a hybrid distributed energy system serving an urban community and modelled within the framework of agent-based theory. The model is of general validity and estimates ( i ) the layout of the links along which electricity is distributed among agents in the local microgrid, ( ii ) electricity exchanged among agents and ( iii ) electricity exported to the main power grid or imported from it. A scenario analysis has been conducted at varying the distance of connection among prosumers, the installed capacity in the area and the usage of links. The distributed energy system has been compared to a centralized energy system in which the electricity requests of the urban community are satisfied by taking electricity from the main grid. The comparison analysis is carried out from an energy, environmental and economic point of view by evaluating the primary energy saving, avoided carbon dioxide emissions and the simple payback period indices.

Suggested Citation

  • Alberto Fichera & Elisa Marrasso & Maurizio Sasso & Rosaria Volpe, 2020. "Energy, Environmental and Economic Performance of an Urban Community Hybrid Distributed Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:10:p:2545-:d:359345
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/10/2545/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/13/10/2545/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gonzalez de Durana, Jose & Barambones, Oscar, 2018. "Technology-free microgrid modeling with application to demand side management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 165-178.
    2. Li, Kangping & Wang, Fei & Mi, Zengqiang & Fotuhi-Firuzabad, Mahmoud & Duić, Neven & Wang, Tieqiang, 2019. "Capacity and output power estimation approach of individual behind-the-meter distributed photovoltaic system for demand response baseline estimation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Roselli, C. & Marrasso, E. & Tariello, F. & Sasso, M., 2020. "How different power grid efficiency scenarios affect the energy and environmental feasibility of a polygeneration system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    4. Hirvonen, Janne & Kayo, Genku & Hasan, Ala & Sirén, Kai, 2014. "Local sharing of cogeneration energy through individually prioritized controls for increased on-site energy utilization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 135(C), pages 350-363.
    5. Dorotić, Hrvoje & Doračić, Borna & Dobravec, Viktorija & Pukšec, Tomislav & Krajačić, Goran & Duić, Neven, 2019. "Integration of transport and energy sectors in island communities with 100% intermittent renewable energy sources," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 109-124.
    6. Yu, Hang & Niu, Songyan & Zhang, Yumeng & Jian, Linni, 2020. "An integrated and reconfigurable hybrid AC/DC microgrid architecture with autonomous power flow control for nearly/net zero energy buildings," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    7. Fichera, Alberto & Pluchino, Alessandro & Volpe, Rosaria, 2018. "A multi-layer agent-based model for the analysis of energy distribution networks in urban areas," Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, Elsevier, vol. 508(C), pages 710-725.
    8. Roselli, C. & Diglio, G. & Sasso, M. & Tariello, F., 2019. "A novel energy index to assess the impact of a solar PV-based ground source heat pump on the power grid," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 488-500.
    9. Ma, Tengfei & Wu, Junyong & Hao, Liangliang & Lee, Wei-Jen & Yan, Huaguang & Li, Dezhi, 2018. "The optimal structure planning and energy management strategies of smart multi energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 122-141.
    10. Dileep, G., 2020. "A survey on smart grid technologies and applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 2589-2625.
    11. Jafari, Mohammad & Malekjamshidi, Zahra, 2020. "Optimal energy management of a residential-based hybrid renewable energy system using rule-based real-time control and 2D dynamic programming optimization method," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 254-266.
    12. Pablo Jimenez Zabalaga & Evelyn Cardozo & Luis A. Choque Campero & Joseph Adhemar Araoz Ramos, 2020. "Performance Analysis of a Stirling Engine Hybrid Power System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-38, February.
    13. Fichera, Alberto & Frasca, Mattia & Palermo, Valentina & Volpe, Rosaria, 2018. "An optimization tool for the assessment of urban energy scenarios," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 156(C), pages 418-429.
    14. Pfeifer, Antun & Dobravec, Viktorija & Pavlinek, Luka & Krajačić, Goran & Duić, Neven, 2018. "Integration of renewable energy and demand response technologies in interconnected energy systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 447-455.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Alberto Fichera & Alessandro Pluchino & Rosaria Volpe, 2020. "Modelling Energy Distribution in Residential Areas: A Case Study Including Energy Storage Systems in Catania, Southern Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-21, July.
    2. Sandipan Patra & Sreedhar Madichetty & Malabika Basu, 2021. "Development of a Smart Energy Community by Coupling Neighbouring Community Microgrids for Enhanced Power Sharing Using Customised Droop Control," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Yuriy Bilan & Marcin Rabe & Katarzyna Widera, 2022. "Distributed Energy Resources: Operational Benefits," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-7, November.
    4. Francesca Ceglia & Elisa Marrasso & Carlo Roselli & Maurizio Sasso, 2021. "Small Renewable Energy Community: The Role of Energy and Environmental Indicators for Power Grid," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-21, February.
    5. Duberney Murillo-Yarce & Sebastián Riffo & Carlos Restrepo & Catalina González-Castaño & Alejandro Garcés, 2022. "Model Predictive Control for Stabilization of DC Microgrids in Island Mode Operation," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 10(18), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Roberta Roberto & Gabriella Ferruzzi & Viviana Negro & Michel Noussan, 2023. "Mapping of Energy Community Development in Europe: State of the Art and Research Directions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-29, September.
    7. Das, Sayan & Dutta, Risav & De, Souvanik & De, Sudipta, 2024. "Review of multi-criteria decision-making for sustainable decentralized hybrid energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    8. Volpato, Gabriele & Carraro, Gianluca & Cont, Marco & Danieli, Piero & Rech, Sergio & Lazzaretto, Andrea, 2022. "General guidelines for the optimal economic aggregation of prosumers in energy communities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 258(C).
    9. Francesca Ceglia & Elisa Marrasso & Samiran Samanta & Maurizio Sasso, 2022. "Addressing Energy Poverty in the Energy Community: Assessment of Energy, Environmental, Economic, and Social Benefits for an Italian Residential Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-22, November.
    10. Luis O. Polanco Vásquez & Víctor M. Ramírez & Diego Langarica Córdova & Juana López Redondo & José Domingo Álvarez & José Luis Torres-Moreno, 2021. "Optimal Management of a Microgrid with Radiation and Wind-Speed Forecasting: A Case Study Applied to a Bioclimatic Building," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Alessandro Franco & Giacomo Cillari, 2021. "Energy Sustainability of Food Stores and Supermarkets through the Installation of PV Integrated Plants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-17, September.
    12. Xu, Bin & Luo, Yuemei & Xu, Renjing & Chen, Jianbao, 2021. "Exploring the driving forces of distributed energy resources in China: Using a semiparametric regression model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 236(C).
    13. Vincenzo Muteri & Francesco Guarino & Sonia Longo & Letizia Bua & Maurizio Cellura & Daniele Testa & Marco Bonzi, 2022. "An Innovative Photovoltaic Luminescent Solar Concentrator Window: Energy and Environmental Aspects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-31, April.
    14. Ghoname Abdullah & Hidekazu Nishimura, 2021. "Techno-Economic Performance Analysis of a 40.1 kWp Grid-Connected Photovoltaic (GCPV) System after Eight Years of Energy Generation: A Case Study for Tochigi, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-19, July.
    15. Mudhafar Al-Saadi & Maher Al-Greer & Michael Short, 2021. "Strategies for Controlling Microgrid Networks with Energy Storage Systems: A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-45, November.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Mimica, Marko & Dominković, Dominik F. & Kirinčić, Vedran & Krajačić, Goran, 2022. "Soft-linking of improved spatiotemporal capacity expansion model with a power flow analysis for increased integration of renewable energy sources into interconnected archipelago," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    2. Mimica, Marko & Dominković, Dominik Franjo & Capuder, Tomislav & Krajačić, Goran, 2021. "On the value and potential of demand response in the smart island archipelago," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 153-168.
    3. Østergaard, P.A. & Lund, H. & Thellufsen, J.Z. & Sorknæs, P. & Mathiesen, B.V., 2022. "Review and validation of EnergyPLAN," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    4. Liu, Jia & Zeng, Peter Pingliang & Xing, Hao & Li, Yalou & Wu, Qiuwei, 2020. "Hierarchical duality-based planning of transmission networks coordinating active distribution network operation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 213(C).
    5. Bellocchi, Sara & Manno, Michele & Noussan, Michel & Prina, Matteo Giacomo & Vellini, Michela, 2020. "Electrification of transport and residential heating sectors in support of renewable penetration: Scenarios for the Italian energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    6. Wakui, Tetsuya & Hashiguchi, Moe & Sawada, Kento & Yokoyama, Ryohei, 2019. "Two-stage design optimization based on artificial immune system and mixed-integer linear programming for energy supply networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 170(C), pages 1228-1248.
    7. Hrnčić, Boris & Pfeifer, Antun & Jurić, Filip & Duić, Neven & Ivanović, Vladan & Vušanović, Igor, 2021. "Different investment dynamics in energy transition towards a 100% renewable energy system," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 237(C).
    8. Groppi, Daniele & Nastasi, Benedetto & Prina, Matteo Giacomo, 2022. "The EPLANoptMAC model to plan the decarbonisation of the maritime transport sector of a small island," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PA).
    9. F, Feijoo & A, Pfeifer & L, Herc & D, Groppi & N, Duić, 2022. "A long-term capacity investment and operational energy planning model with power-to-X and flexibility technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    10. Alves, M. & Segurado, R. & Costa, M., 2020. "On the road to 100% renewable energy systems in isolated islands," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C).
    11. Stančin, H. & Mikulčić, H. & Wang, X. & Duić, N., 2020. "A review on alternative fuels in future energy system," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).
    12. Yang, Dechang & Wang, Ming & Yang, Ruiqi & Zheng, Yingying & Pandzic, Hrvoje, 2021. "Optimal dispatching of an energy system with integrated compressed air energy storage and demand response," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 234(C).
    13. Chi, Lixun & Su, Huai & Zio, Enrico & Zhang, Jinjun & Li, Xueyi & Zhang, Li & Fan, Lin & Zhou, Jing & Bai, Hua, 2020. "Integrated Deterministic and Probabilistic Safety Analysis of Integrated Energy Systems with bi-directional conversion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C).
    14. Jihed Hmad & Azeddine Houari & Allal El Moubarek Bouzid & Abdelhakim Saim & Hafedh Trabelsi, 2023. "A Review on Mode Transition Strategies between Grid-Connected and Standalone Operation of Voltage Source Inverters-Based Microgrids," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(13), pages 1-41, June.
    15. Zhou, Yuekuan & Lund, Peter D., 2023. "Peer-to-peer energy sharing and trading of renewable energy in smart communities ─ trading pricing models, decision-making and agent-based collaboration," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 207(C), pages 177-193.
    16. Géremi Gilson Dranka & Paula Ferreira, 2020. "Electric Vehicles and Biofuels Synergies in the Brazilian Energy System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-22, August.
    17. Xu, Xiao & Hu, Weihao & Cao, Di & Liu, Wen & Huang, Qi & Hu, Yanting & Chen, Zhe, 2021. "Enhanced design of an offgrid PV-battery-methanation hybrid energy system for power/gas supply," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 167(C), pages 440-456.
    18. Hafize Nurgul Durmus Senyapar & Ramazan Bayindir, 2023. "The Research Agenda on Smart Grids: Foresights for Social Acceptance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-31, September.
    19. Bao, Minglei & Hui, Hengyu & Ding, Yi & Sun, Xiaocong & Zheng, Chenghang & Gao, Xiang, 2023. "An efficient framework for exploiting operational flexibility of load energy hubs in risk management of integrated electricity-gas systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 338(C).
    20. Vitale, F. & Rispoli, N. & Sorrentino, M. & Rosen, M.A. & Pianese, C., 2021. "On the use of dynamic programming for optimal energy management of grid-connected reversible solid oxide cell-based renewable microgrids," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:10:p:2545-:d:359345. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.