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The Contribution of Energy Communities to the Upscaling of Photovoltaics in Germany and Italy

Author

Listed:
  • August Wierling

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Røyrgata 6, 6856 Sogndal, Norway)

  • Jan Pedro Zeiss

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Røyrgata 6, 6856 Sogndal, Norway)

  • Veronica Lupi

    (GREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, Italy)

  • Chiara Candelise

    (GREEN Research Centre, Bocconi University, Via Röntgen 1, 20136 Milan, Italy
    Imperial Centre for Energy Policy and Technology (ICEPT), South Kensington Campus, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK)

  • Alessandro Sciullo

    (Department of Culture, Politics, and Society, University of Turin, Via Verdi 8, 10124 Turin, Italy)

  • Valeria Jana Schwanitz

    (Department of Environmental Sciences, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Røyrgata 6, 6856 Sogndal, Norway
    The Create Centre, The Schumacher Institute, Bristol BS1 6XN, UK)

Abstract

Energy communities (EC) are among the new actors in the energy market, playing an important role in the uptake of photovoltaics (PV) in European markets. This paper estimates their aggregate contribution to the low-carbon energy transition in terms of installed capacities for PV and evaluates their economic performance comparing with market prices. We compiled a database of PV facilities with 3672 entries for Germany and 64 entries for Italy. Our statistical analysis does not support an economic under-performance of EC. The aggregate contribution of EC currently amounts to 600–838 MWp installed capacity in Germany and 10.6 MWp installed capacity in Italy, which makes 1.2–1.7% and 0.07% of all PV installations in Germany and Italy, respectively.

Suggested Citation

  • August Wierling & Jan Pedro Zeiss & Veronica Lupi & Chiara Candelise & Alessandro Sciullo & Valeria Jana Schwanitz, 2021. "The Contribution of Energy Communities to the Upscaling of Photovoltaics in Germany and Italy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-16, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:8:p:2258-:d:538017
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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    Cited by:

    1. Piselli, C. & Fronzetti Colladon, A. & Segneri, L. & Pisello, A.L., 2022. "Evaluating and improving social awareness of energy communities through semantic network analysis of online news," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    2. Martens, Katrin, 2022. "Investigating subnational success conditions to foster renewable energy community co-operatives," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    3. Veronica Lupi & Chiara Candelise & Merce Almuni Calull & Sarah Delvaux & Pieter Valkering & Wit Hubert & Alessandro Sciullo & Nele Ivask & Esther van der Waal & Izaskun Jimenez Iturriza & Daniele Paci, 2021. "A Characterization of European Collective Action Initiatives and Their Role as Enablers of Citizens’ Participation in the Energy Transition," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-17, December.
    4. Ludwik Wicki & Robert Pietrzykowski & Dariusz Kusz, 2022. "Factors Determining the Development of Prosumer Photovoltaic Installations in Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-19, August.
    5. Mirosław Struś & Daria Kostecka-Jurczyk & Katarzyna Marak, 2023. "The Role of Local Government in the Bottom-Up Energy Transformation of Poland on the Example of the Lower Silesian Voivodeship," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-13, June.
    6. Erika Michela Dematteis & Jussara Barale & Marta Corno & Alessandro Sciullo & Marcello Baricco & Paola Rizzi, 2021. "Solid-State Hydrogen Storage Systems and the Relevance of a Gender Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-26, September.
    7. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Matteo Caldera & Elena De Luca, 2022. "Mainstreaming Community Energy: Is the Renewable Energy Directive a Driver for Renewable Energy Communities in Germany and Italy?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-24, June.
    8. Valeria Jana Schwanitz & Tadeusz Józef Rudek & Wit Hubert & August Hubert Wierling, 2022. "The Development of Citizen-Installed Renewable Energy Capacities in Former Eastern Bloc Countries—The Case of Poland," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-29, April.
    9. Roberto Gerundo & Alessandra Marra, 2022. "A Decision Support Methodology to Foster Renewable Energy Communities in the Municipal Urban Plan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-22, December.
    10. Roberto De Lotto & Calogero Micciché & Elisabetta M. Venco & Angelo Bonaiti & Riccardo De Napoli, 2022. "Energy Communities: Technical, Legislative, Organizational, and Planning Features," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-22, February.

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