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Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Community Designs for District Heating Networks: Case Study of Corticella (Italy)

Author

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  • Maria Alessandra Ancona

    (Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Francesco Baldi

    (Department of Energy Efficiency (DUEE)—ENEA, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy)

  • Lisa Branchini

    (Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Andrea De Pascale

    (Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Federico Gianaroli

    (Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Francesco Melino

    (Department of Industrial Engineering (DIN), Alma Mater Studiorum—University of Bologna, Viale del Risorgimento 2, 40136 Bologna, Italy)

  • Mattia Ricci

    (Department of Energy Efficiency (DUEE)—ENEA, Via Martiri di Monte Sole 4, 40129 Bologna, Italy)

Abstract

In recent years, a rapid increase in the adoption of renewable energy sources and in the transition from a centralized electricity generation system to an increasingly distributed one has occurred. Within this scenario, in line with the European directives for achieving the objectives in the field of energy transition and climate change, energy communities are seen as potential contributors. The purpose of this work is to analyze the application potential of the energy community concept associated with district heating networks, leading to better overall energy-economic performance. This was demonstrated for a specific energy community in Italy, and it can be achieved by maximizing internal energy sharing—resulting from the electricity surplus generated by the photovoltaic system—and adopting different strategies that include heat pumps in order to maximize self-consumption and self-sufficiency, as well as to evaluate the most efficient investment in economic terms by exploiting the incentive tariff on shared energy. The results show that the performance of the system can be improved with the proposed design, achieving a significant reduction in the system’s energy demand, emissions and costs: compared to the reference case, the use of photovoltaics reduces primary energy demand by approximately 11%, while the addition of the energy community configuration allows emissions to be reduced by nearly 12%, with no additional investment.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Alessandra Ancona & Francesco Baldi & Lisa Branchini & Andrea De Pascale & Federico Gianaroli & Francesco Melino & Mattia Ricci, 2022. "Comparative Analysis of Renewable Energy Community Designs for District Heating Networks: Case Study of Corticella (Italy)," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-18, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:14:p:5248-:d:866964
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Ceglia, Francesca & Marrasso, Elisa & Roselli, Carlo & Sasso, Maurizio, 2023. "Energy and environmental assessment of a biomass-based renewable energy community including photovoltaic and hydroelectric systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    3. Francesca Ceglia & Elisa Marrasso & Chiara Martone & Giovanna Pallotta & Carlo Roselli & Maurizio Sasso, 2023. "Towards the Decarbonization of Industrial Districts through Renewable Energy Communities: Techno-Economic Feasibility of an Italian Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Andrea Sarcina & Rubina Canesi, 2023. "Renewable Energy Community: Opportunities and Threats towards Green Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-21, September.
    5. Rodríguez-Pastor, D.A. & Carvajal, E. & Becerra, J.A. & Soltero, V.M. & Chacartegui, R., 2024. "Methanol-based thermochemical energy storage (TCES) for district heating networks," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 298(C).
    6. Margherita Povolato & Alessandro Prada & Sara Verones & Silvia Debiasi & Paolo Baggio, 2023. "The Impact of Energy Community Composition on Its Technical and Economic Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-15, July.
    7. Damir Požgaj & Branimir Pavković & Boris Delač & Vladimir Glažar, 2023. "Retrofitting of the District Heating System Based on the Application of Heat Pumps Operating with Natural Refrigerants," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-28, February.
    8. Paula Sankelo & Kaiser Ahmed & Alo Mikola & Jarek Kurnitski, 2022. "Renovation Results of Finnish Single-Family Renovation Subsidies: Oil Boiler Replacement with Heat Pumps," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-18, October.

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