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This paper's research question is to evaluate the potential impact of large numbers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) on the future electric grid, and whether the flexibility of BEV charging can induce enough system benefits to remunerate BEV users for the change in their recharging pattern. The considered scenario refers to the Italian situation and what might occur through the year 2040, where a share of BEV stock of 40% can be foreseen, as well as significant increases in PV and wind generation. Although this study is focused on Italy, its results are applicable, with minor differences, to several EU countries. This paper first shows that the future impact of increasing penetration of BEVs appears to be compatible with the expected growth of generation from renewable energy sources (RES) and the corresponding reduction in fossil fuel-based generation. It also gives an estimate of the CO2 emission reduction resulting from these changes, considering an unmanaged BEV charge profile and two different managed profiles that shift the car's charging period to hours of the day when they have no negative impact on the grid and maximize the utilization of RES. Finally, it shows an evaluation of the economic benefits of displacing private car charging ranging from 4 to 10 cEUR/kWh, which could be used as tariff incentives to stimulate this displacing in recharging time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the context of power system decarbonization, the demand-side strategy for increasing the share of renewable energy is studied for two constrained energy systems. This strategy, which is currently widely suggested in policies on the energy transition, would impact consumer behavior. Despite the importance of studying the latter, the focus here is on decisions regarding the type, location, and timeframe of implementing the related measures. As such, solutions must be assessed in terms of cost and feasibility, technological learning, and by considering geographical and environmental constraints. Based on techno-economic optimization, in this paper we analyze the evolution of the power system and elaborate plausible long-term trajectories in the energy systems of two European islands. The case studies, Procida in Italy and Hinnøya in Norway, are both electrically connected to the mainland by submarine cables and present issues in their power systems, which are here understood as relatively isolated power systems. Renewable energy integration is encouraged by legislative measures in Italy. Although not modeled here, they serve as a backbone for the assumptions of increasing these investments. For Procida, rooftop photovoltaics (PV) coupled with energy storage are integrated in the residential, public, and tertiary sectors. A price-based strategy is also applied reflecting the Italian electricity tariff structure. At a certain price difference between peak and off-peak, the electricity supply mix changes, favoring storage technologies and hence decreasing imports by up to 10% during peak times in the year 2050. In Norway, renewable energy resources are abundant. The analysis for Hinnøya showcases possible cross-sectoral flexibilities through electrification, leading to decarbonization. By fine-tuning electric vehicle charging tactics and leveraging Norway's electricity pricing model, excess electricity demand peaks can be averted. The conclusions of this double-prospective study provide a comparative analysis that presents the lessons learnt and makes replicability recommendations for other territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a multi-objective optimization model for the integration of polygeneration systems into energy communities (ECs), by analyzing a case study. The concept of ECs is increasingly seen as beneficial for reducing global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Polygeneration systems have the potential to play a crucial role in this context, since they are known for producing multiple energy services from a single energy resource, besides the possibility of being fed also by renewable energy sources. However, optimizing the configuration and operation of these systems within ECs presents complex challenges due to the variety of technologies involved, their interactions, and the dynamic behavior of buildings. Therefore, the aim of this work is developing a mathematical model using a mixed integer linear programming (MILP) algorithm to optimally design and operate polygeneration systems integrated into ECs. The model is applied to a case study of an EC comprising nine buildings in a small city in the northeast of Italy. The work rests on the single- and multi-objective optimization of the polygeneration systems taking into account the sharing of electricity among the buildings (both self-produced and/or the purchased from the grid), as well as the sharing of heating and cooling between the buildings through a district heating and cooling network (DHCN). The main results from the EC case study show the possibility of reducing the total annual CO2 emissions by around 24.3% (about 1.72 kt CO2/year) while increasing the total annual costs by 1.9% (about 0.09 M€/year) or reducing the total annual costs by 31.9% (about 1.47 M€/year) while increasing the total annual CO2 emissions by 2.2% (about 0.16 kt CO2/year). The work developed within this research can be adapted to different case studies, such as in the residential–commercial buildings and industrial sectors. Therefore, the model resulting from this work constitutes an effective tool to optimally design and operate polygeneration systems integrated into ECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The integration of renewable energy systems in buildings leads to a reduction in energy bills for end users and a reduction in the carbon footprint of such buildings, usually referred to as prosumers. In addition, the installation of charging points for the electric vehicles of people working or living in these buildings can further improve the energy efficiency of the whole system if innovative technologies, such as vehicle-to-building (V2B) technologies, are implemented. The aim of this paper is to present an Energy Management System (EMS) based on mathematical programming that has been developed to optimally manage a prosumer building equipped with photovoltaics, a micro wind turbine and several charging points for electric vehicles. Capabilities curves of renewable power plant inverters are modelled within the EMS, as well as the possibility to apply power curtailment and V2B. The use of V2B technology reduces the amount of electricity purchased from the public grid, while the use of smart inverters for the power plants allows zero reactive power to be drawn from the grid. Levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) is used to quantify curtailment costs, while penalties on reactive power absorption from the distribution network are evaluated in accordance with the current regulatory framework. Specifically, the model is applied to a prosumer building owned by the postal service in a large city in Italy. The paper reports the main results of the study and proposes a sensitivity analysis on the number of charging stations and vehicles, as well as on the consideration of different typical days characterized by different load and generation profiles. This paper also investigates how errors in forecasting energy production from renewable sources impact the optimal operation of the whole system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient management of renewable energy resources is imperative for promoting environmental sustainability and optimizing the utilization of clean energy sources. This paper presents a pioneering European-scale study on energy management within renewable energy communities (RECs). With a primary focus on enhancing the social welfare of the community, we introduce a reinforcement learning (RL) controller designed to strategically manage Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESSs) and orchestrate energy flows. This research transcends geographical boundaries by conducting an extended analysis of various energy communities and diverse energy markets across Europe, encompassing different regions of Italy. Our methodology involves the implementation of an RL controller, leveraging optimal control theory for training and utilizing only real-time data available at the current time step during the test phase. Through simulations conducted in diverse contexts, we demonstrate the superior performance of our RL agent compared to a state-of-the-art rule-based controller. The agent exhibits remarkable adaptability to various scenarios, consistently surpassing existing rule-based controllers. Notably, we illustrate that our approach aligns with the intricate patterns observed in both Italian and European energy markets, achieving performance levels comparable to an optimal controller assuming perfect theoretical knowledge of future data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The paper explores how regional actors engage with energy systems, flows and infrastructures in order to meet particular goals and offers a fine-tuned analysis of how differences arise, highlighting the policy-relevant insights that emerge. Methods: Using a novel framework, the research performs a comparative case study analysis of three regions in Italy and two of the devolved territories of the UK, Wales and Scotland, drawing on interviews and documentary analysis. Results: The paper shows that acknowledging the socio-materialities of renewable energy allows a fine-tuned analysis of how institutions, governance and infrastructure can enable/constrain energy transitions and policy effectiveness at local and regional levels. The heuristic adopted highlights (i) the institutions that matter for renewable energy and their varied effects on regional renewable energy deployment; (ii) the range of agencies involved in strategically establishing, contesting and reproducing institutions, expectations, visions and infrastructure as renewable energy deployment unfolds at the regional level and (iii) the nature and extent of infrastructure requirements for and constraints on renewable energy delivery and how they affect the regional capacity to shape infrastructure networks and facilitate renewable energy deployment. The paper shows how the regions investigated developed their institutional and governance capacity and made use of targets, energy visions and spatial planning to promote renewable energy deployment. It shows that several mediating factors emerge from examining the interactions between regional physical resource endowments and energy infrastructure renewal and expansion. The analysis leads to policy-relevant insights into what makes for renewable energy deployment. Conclusion: The paper contributes to research that demonstrates the role of institutional variations and governance as foundations for geographical differences in the adoption of renewable energy, and carries significant implications for policy thinking and implementation. It shows why and how policy-makers need to be more effective in balancing the range of goals/interests for renewable energy deployment with the peculiarities and specificities of the regional contexts and their infrastructures. The insights presented help to explain how energy choices and outcomes are shaped in particular places, how differences arise and operate in practice, and how they need to be taken into account in policy design, policy-making and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starting from the relationship between urban planning and mobility management, TeMA has gradually expanded the view of the covered topics, always remaining in the groove of rigorous scientific in-depth analysis. This section of the Journal, Review Notes, is the expression of continuously updating emerging topics concerning relationships between urban planning, mobility and environment, through a collection of short scientific papers written by young researchers. The Review Notes are made of four parts. Each section examines a specific aspect of the broader information storage within the main interests of TeMA Journal. In particular, the Urban Practices section aims at producing, analyzing and reporting data on recent and relevant policies in the urban domain. This contribution aims at delving into the Energy Community paradigm and its application into the Italian context. The concept of energy communities has gained significant attention and recognition in both the European and Italian contexts. These communities are based on the idea of decentralizing energy production and fostering local participation in the transition to renewable energy sources. Since only recently the legislative panorama provided a set of limits and opportunities to the implementation of energy communities, this note is dedicated to some of the most interesting spontaneous experiences recently born in Italy, to highlight their strengths and weaknesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper explores the potential of the main state economic incentive (Conto Termico) designed to promote the use of renewable energy sources for heating and cooling purposes in residential buildings, aiming to reduce primary air emissions from residential biomass combustion (RBC). For this purpose, an emission reduction scenario involving the technological transition of biomass residential heating appliances was implemented in the lowland small‐medium municipalities of the Lombardy region in Italy, where households are connected to the natural gas grid but RBC is often practiced for economic reasons, contributing to severe air pollution problems related especially to particulate matter (PM) emissions. This technological turnover scenario (i.e. all biomass appliances in the area replaced by state‐of‐the‐art pellet appliances) resulted in a significant reduction of particulate matter emissions, while having only a minimal impact on NOx emissions. The incentivized cost for technological turnover (€15/kgPM10 avoided) was in line with the social costs associated with health impacts related to PM10 in a rural setting such as the study area. Given the one‐off investment support provided by a recently adopted national decree (DM 15/09/2022), biomethane emerges as a promising renewable energy alternative to decrease PM and NOx emissions from RBC in Lombardy region, characterized by an extensive natural gas distribution network and potential waste feedstock for biomethane production. Despite the still elevated production costs, an analysis restricted to the incentivized segment reveals that supporting biomethane production through investment incentives is more cost‐effective (€8/kgPM10 avoided) than promoting technological turnover. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new technological innovations for eco-friendly vehicles combined with the usage of renewable energy sources is essential for mitigating the environmental impact of freight transport. In this context, this paper investigates the opportunities for implementing the eHighway system, a novel recent technology designed to supply new hybrid trucks. This technology uses overhead catenary heavy-duty vehicles that are supplied with electric energy from overhead power lines through a pantograph that is positioned at the top of the truck. A novel bi-level multi-objective network electrification design (BM-NED) model is proposed to assess the environmental benefits and opportunities of adopting eHighways, considering the limited budgetary resources for road infrastructure electrification. Still, the implementation of eHighways requires collaboration between public and private stakeholder interests. The upper level considers multiple objectives aiming at minimizing the total travel cost, infrastructure, and environmental costs and maximizing the average traffic density of OC hybrid trucks on electrified arcs, whereas the lower level is the traffic assignment model. The Elitist multi-objective Genetic Algorithms are used as a solution approach for the multi-objective optimization and the Pareto front of the non-dominated solutions have been generated. Results of the model, tested on a part of a motorway network in the Veneto region in Italy, show that the implementation of the eHighway system can lead to an average emission reduction of about 66%, considering all Pareto-optimal solutions. Furthermore, a sensitivity analysis has been carried out by giving different weights to the objective functions that can be a basis for decision-makers regarding the adoption of this new technology. • The implementation of the eHighway system is investigated to evaluate its benefits. • A novel bi-level multi-objective network electrification design model is proposed. • The model is tested on a part of a motorway network in the Veneto region (Italy). • Sensitivity analysis evaluates different solutions for potential decision-makers. • The study gives insights for policy makers regarding eHighway adoption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper computes and analyses some relevant indicators of economic performance of Italian farms producing/not producing renewable energy, and compares the economic results of the two set of farms. The source of data is the European Farm Accountant Data Network; the farms belonging to this network are analysed in relation to their structural differences, type of farming, geographical areas, economic size, as well as the type of renewable energy produced. After an in-depth statistical investigation, the main economic ratios are computed and analysed using also multivariate regression models, with a special focus on the production of solar and biogas energy. In terms of land and labour productivity and fixed factor remuneration, the results show that farms producing renewable energy perform better than the other farms. This positive effect is particularly accentuated in large companies that produce biogas, followed by farms that produce solar energy. There are still many obstacles that limit the production of renewable energy in agriculture; among these, still insufficient research and information on best practices in agriculture and, in Italy, the complexity and dispersion of the institutional legislative framework and of the public support systems. However, the need to increase the production of renewable energy has become a priority for many European countries both in the short- and in the medium term, especially in light of recent events related to the war in Ukraine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite sustained interest in spatial planning approaches for steering renewable energy development, the effect of these practices remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this knowledge deficit through comparative analysis of the effects of spatial planning approaches on wind energy deployment in Italy and the UK. Our approach elucidates the different roles that spatial planning approaches can perform using a "modes of governing" framework that, innovatively, recognizes the unavoidable compromises involved in their construction. Several distinctive findings emerge. First, governments deploy spatial planning approaches with different governance purposes, thus explaining why the effects on RE outcomes can be ambiguous. Second, many of the challenges that beset spatial planning approaches arise not from technical-methodological issues but from difficult-to-resolve governance challenges of cross-scalar coordination. Third, we show that the efficacy of spatial planning approaches in shaping RE deployment is contextual in nature, reflecting how far their inherent compromises are accepted by key actors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of freshwater and energy is a serious issue in remote and islanded areas, especially at a small scale, where there may not be the possibility to access the grid and/or water distribution systems. In this context, polygeneration systems operating on the basis of local, renewable energy sources can be an answer to the users' demand for electricity, heating, cooling, and domestic hot water. The scope of the proposed paper was to investigate, numerically, the energy and economic feasibility of a novel hybrid polygeneration system powered by biomass, solar, and wind energy for a micro-district of households. The proposed system consists of a biomass-fueled steam cycle, wind turbine, photovoltaic field coupled with thermal and electrical energy storage, adsorption chiller, and a reverse osmosis water desalination unit. The system is also assisted by an LPG generator set running as backup. The system provides space heating and cooling, electrical energy, and fresh and domestic hot water to 10 households located on Pantelleria Island, Italy. The proposed system is modelled and simulated through TRNSYS software with realistic user demand. The energy and economic performance of the proposed system are assessed with respect to a reference system in different scenarios, taking into account islanded operation, connection to the grid, and biomass tariffs. The results show that the proposed system achieves an excellent primary energy saving performance in all the investigated scenarios, with savings of more than 94% for all the investigated scenarios. Excluding any kind of funding, in case of new investment for the system, the simple payback oscillates between 7 and 12 years, showing that the developed alternative is fairly valid with respect to traditional solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogen supplying to industrial users is currently the major hydrogen business worldwide and the demand for hydrogen is almost entirely supplied from fossil fuels. In the last years a widespread interest on hydrogen has grown as energy vector for the decarbonization of multiple sectors, including industry, transport and buildings. Nevertheless, the impact of natural gas and other fossil fuels substitution with hydrogen is highly affected by the mix of different technologies and energy sources applied for hydrogen generation. The paper aims to investigate current CO 2 emissions related with hydrogen generation in Australia and Italy by means of PEM and alkaline technologies; and to evaluate the potential impact considering cell characteristics variation and 3 scenarios based on energy mix. A sensitivity analysis is performed to identify the critical parameters. Based on experimental data, the energy consumption for hydrogen production using PEM technology is more sensitive to cell voltage compared to current density, which indicates the importance of cell manufacturing and electrolyte resistance. In addition, by performing sensitivity analysis regarding energy sources scenarios it is found that carbon dioxide emission in Australia is more sensitive to renewable energy sources rather than Italy. [Display omitted] • Importance of manufacturing and electrolyte resistance because of high PEM energy consumption sensitivity to cell voltage. • Predicted emission in 2030 is 5–10 kg CO 2 using PEM/alkaline technology in Italy. • 18% reduction of national electricity grid CO 2 emission in Australia is predicted. (In 2030 in comparison to 2019). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number and importance of renewable energy communities (RECs) are increasing in all European countries due to the support of EU and national policies in order to foster the energy transition through participatory strategies for distributed energy systems. However, their development is rather slow in some countries, including Italy. The paper addressed the issue of the emergence of these socio-technical configurations in Italy, after the related law which entered into force in 2020 allowing the possibility of creating them. Our study focused on the alliances among different actors (professionals, institutions, NGOs, citizens) highlighting possible trends or models for the future that need to be confirmed in further research. The approach proposed to analyse this current process is the Actor-Network Theory, aiming at drawing the assemblages of human and non-human actants at a general level. Accordingly, we selected three case studies in order to show their different ways of organising, the relevance of trust in establishing each REC and the influence of local context on the composition and features of the actor-networks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel layout to be easily adopted by existing residential districts. • The novel layout can reduce the primary energy consumption of the residential district. • A primary energy saving index of 38 % and payback period of 2.2 years is achieved. • Power to heat strategy increases the district self-consumed electricity by 15%. • The power to heat strategy is able to further exploit the excess renewable electricity. This paper aims at reducing both electricity and space heating demands of residential districts. It specifically investigates the emerging paradigm, based on renewable energy communities, for existing residential districts. In particular, a novel renewable energy community layout is analyzed. This layout integrates a district heating network and the power to heat control strategy. The proposed system is designed to prevent any major refurbishment inside the apartments, using the existing high temperature space heating system. This arrangement is compared with more conventional renewable energy community layouts. Detailed dynamic models for both the residential district and the proposed layouts are developed using the TRNSYS software. Results show that renewable energy community is an extremely profitable paradigm for promoting the use of renewables at residential buildings scale. Moreover, the layout integrating energy community, district heating network, and Power-to-Heat strategy achieves the best results with a payback period of 2.2 years and a primary energy saving of 38 %. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remote areas usually do not have access to electricity from the national grid. The energy demand is often covered by diesel generators, resulting in high operating costs and significant environmental impacts. With reference to the case study of Ginostra (a village on a small island in the south of Italy), this paper analyses the environmental sustainability of an innovative solution based on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) integrated with a hybrid hydrogen-battery energy storage system. A comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) has been carried out to evaluate if and to what extent the RES-based system could bring environmental improvements compared to the current diesel-based configuration. The results show that the impact of the RES-based system is less than 10% of that of the current diesel-based solution for almost all impact categories (climate change, ozone depletion, photochemical ozone formation, acidification, marine and terrestrial eutrophication and fossil resource use). The renewable solution has slightly higher values only for the following indicators: use of mineral and metal resources, water use and freshwater eutrophication. The climate change category accounts for 0.197 kg CO 2 eq./kWh in the renewable scenario and 1.73 kg CO 2 eq./kWh in the diesel-based scenario, which corresponds to a reduction in GHG emissions of 89%. By shifting to the RES-based solution, about 6570 t of CO 2 equivalent can be saved in 25 years (lifetime of the plant). In conclusion, the hydrogen-battery system could provide a sustainable and reliable alternative for power supply in remote areas. • An LCA of an off-grid hybrid battery-hydrogen system is performed. • A comparison with the current scenario based on a diesel generator is performed. • Low impact on climate change for the Renewable scenario (0.197 kg CO 2 eq./MWh). • The Renewable scenario can save more than 260 t of CO 2 eq. per year. • The impact due to transport by helicopter to the remote site is negligible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020 the European Commission approved the GND (Green New Deal), a strategic plan aimed at the decarbonization of the EU by 2050. In this scenario, the diffusion of alternative renewable energy sources (RESs) play a key role, particularly electric energy production from wind and photovoltaic power plants. Regardless, the nonprogrammable nature of these power sources led recent studies to focus the interest on the power-to-gas solution (PtG), consisting of the electrolytic transformation of excesses of unused electric energy into hydrogen. The complexity of this technology requires the development of strategic optimization models aimed at finding the best locations for new PtG plants in specific territorial scenarios. This paper presents the development of a GIS-based optimization model that combines an operational research approach with territorial services based on geographic information system (GIS) data. The study is located in Sicily (Italy), considering the large renewable energy penetration in the larger Mediterranean island. The developed model allows us to find the best location for new PtG installations in the considered area by combining GIS automated processing with cost function resolution. The results of this work could be useful in the years to come in light of the rapid spread of hydrogen energy production in Italy. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Super-hot rock geothermal is an emerging source of renewable and carbon-free energy. This paper is the first attempt to explore fluid and heat flow dynamics in the reservoir-wellbore coupled system, to assess the power generation performance of a super-hot (>450 °C) enhanced geothermal system (EGS). We developed a high-performance code and built a 3-D wellbore-reservoir coupled model based on data from a recently completed deep-drilling project at Larderello, Italy. The general pattern of the super-hot EGS is characterized by a significant temperature plummet (>60 °C), after which the production fluid evolves from steam to a two-phase mixture till the end of the operation period. Reservoir pressure emerges as a key parameter to determine the temperature of the two-phase mixture. By realistically capturing phase transitions driven by coupled thermo-hydraulic processes during operations, our numerical model predicts a lower power generation efficiency compared to previous attempts based on ultra-simplified models. Although finalized at assessing the thermodynamic viability of a specific system, this modeling approach provides general information on fundamental thermo-hydraulic processes in the Earth crust that might be applied for the design of similar EGS projects elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The energy needs of a Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB) are fully met by renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, the time span of the energy balance can affect the effective energy self-sufficiency of the building. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the lack of reliability that a yearly energy balance has in characterizing an NZEB. At this scope, comparisons between two different photovoltaic systems (fixed and tracking) and two kinds of energy balance (yearly and monthly) are made for a real NZEB building located in South-Italy. The investigation was carried out through dynamic energy simulations after validating the building model. The results show that the PV surface which attains the NZEB target on yearly basis not always achieves the same objective as the monthly balance. Furthermore, considering a monthly balance, the size of the photovoltaic system with biaxial solar tracking is 50% minor than the fixed one, thanks to a steadier energy production. Also, solar tracking systems show a significantly lower reduction of operational and embodied CO 2 emissions. A final technical-economic analysis shows, however, that design solutions that satisfy NZEB target not always can meet the financial interest of the private stakeholder, showing a high discounted payback period. • The energy needs of an existing NZEB are evaluated through dynamic simulation. • Fixed and tracking PV systems are designed and compared to obtain the NZEB target. • Comparisons between yearly and monthly balance using different PV systems are made. • Yearly balance is not adequate to characterize energy self-sufficiency for an NZEB. • Tracking PVs reduce monthly withdrawal from electricity grid and CO 2 emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current paper contributes to the literature on community renewable energy by considering two projects developed in the north-west of Italy, in the Piedmont region. Community renewable energy is increasingly regarded by academic literature and policy discourse as crucial to ensure a socially and environmentally just energy transition. In spite of the growing diffusion of community renewable energy projects, there is still a lack of theoretically informed analyses. Our article tries to address this gap by combining two theoretical perspectives: the multilevel perspective and the socio-technical imaginaries approach. Applying the first perspective helps reconstruct the context and circumstances that have permitted the Piedmont's energy community projects to emerge. Particular attention is given to the windows of opportunity created by the Regional Law 12/2018, which acknowledged the establishment of energy communities for the first time in Italy. The socio-technical imaginaries perspective allows the identification of collective ideas and meanings that emerge when individuals or groups promote a socio-technical innovation. Based on this analysis, three main future changes are associated with community renewable energy: an integral ecology approach, a stronger sense of community, and a local development opportunity for rural areas characterised by depopulation, a low employment rate, and high energy demand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sustainable Development Goals are significantly increasing investments in the production of energy from renewable sources (RESs). To this end, the supply of monetary incentives by public institutions has increased sharply. This flow of money inevitably attracts the attention of criminal organizations (henceforth COs) that use their power to increase the volumes of investments, while public authorities might react by deciding not to make investments in RESs in areas at risk of distorted use of incentives. In this context, the research question is as follows: does the presence of COs slow down or encourage investment in RESs? Until now, this topic has received little attention from researchers, at least in the European Union. In particular, the presence of COs is particularly pervasive in the economic system of Italy. Given the heterogeneity of this country, a spatial econometric approach was used, taking into account geographical dependency relationships and their impact on the relevant variables. The main result of the research shows a negative relationship between Italian areas with higher CO levels and RES investments. In other words, investments are discouraged in these regions. This situation is detrimental to the target regions in terms of sustainable development and increasing the gross national product (GNP). Furthermore, we found that micro-crime cannot in any way influence investments in RESs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The transition towards energy efficiency measures and green energy sources is strongly fostered by the European Union. Italy is among the EU countries that have heavily invested in renewable energy sources, more than doubling their share in gross final energy consumption. In particular, biogas has a pivotal role in the generation of electricity and can also be upgraded into biomethane, with a higher and more stable energy content. In this study, the sustainability of the supply chain of electricity from biogas in Italy has been thoroughly analyzed in the broader framework of the ARCADIA (Life Cycle Approach in Public Procurement and Italian LCA Database for Resource Efficiency) project. The environmental assessment, carried out by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), provides a two-fold perspective. Firstly, it allows us to identify the main hotspots of the investigated system, such as the cultivation of dedicated crops, and to provide useful insights for improving environmental performance. Furthermore, a focus on the modeling of the dataset related to the production of electricity from biogas within the Italian electricity mix represents a step ahead in the LCA research, filling the lack of site-specific databases for reliable LCA results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current study evaluates the effect of financial development (FD), economic growth (GDP), trade globalization (TGLO), renewable energy consumption (REC), and human capital (HC) on ecological footprint (ECF) in Italy using data between 1985 and 2018. We further assess the combined impact of trade globalisation and human capital on ecological footprint as well as the combined effect of trade globalisation and human capital on ecological footprint. In order to explore these associations, the present research utilizes autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) to catch both long and short-run associations between ecological footprint and its drivers. Furthermore, we use dynamic OLS (DOLS) and fully modified OLS (FMOLS) long-run estimators as robustness checks. Lastly, causality at different frequencies is captured using the frequency domain causality test. The outcomes of the ARDL estimator disclose that (a) a surge in ecological footprint is attributed to an increase in economic growth; (b) a decrease in ecological footprint is attributed to an increase in renewable energy, trade globalisation, and human capital; (c) the combined impact of human capital and trade globalisation lessen ecological footprint, and (d) combined effect of trade globalisation and human capital mitigate ecological footprint in Italy. Furthermore, the outcomes of the causality test revealed that all the exogenous variables can significantly predict ecological footprint in the long run with the exemption of financial development. Based on the study's findings, an SDG-focused policy framework is advocated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting electricity production from renewable energy sources, such as solar photovoltaic installations, is crucial for effective grid management and energy planning in the transition towards a sustainable future. This study proposes machine learning approaches for predicting electricity production from solar photovoltaic installations at a regional level in Italy, not using data on individual installations. Addressing the challenge of diverse data availability between pinpoint meteorological inputs and aggregated power data for entire regions, we propose leveraging meteorological data from the centroid of each Italian province within each region. Particular attention is given to the selection of the best input features, which leads to augmenting the input with 1-hour-lagged meteorological data and previous-hour power data. Several ML approaches were compared and examined, optimizing the hyperparameters through five-fold cross-validation. The hourly predictions encompass a time horizon ranging from 1 to 24 h. Among tested methods, Kernel Ridge Regression and Random Forest Regression emerge as the most effective models for our specific application. We also performed experiments to assess how frequently the models should be retrained and how frequently the hyperparameters should be optimized in order to comprise between accuracy and computational costs. Our results indicate that once trained, the model can provide accurate predictions for extended periods without frequent retraining, highlighting its long-term reliability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the suitability of the community cooperatives (CC) model for the implementation of renewable energy communities (REC), as prescribed by art. 22 of EU Directive 2018/2001, and temporarily transposed into the Italian law by art. 42-bis of the Law Decree n. 162/2019. The hypothesis explored analyses the potential synergies between RECs and CC, based on their similarities. In particular, the article takes into consideration: the actors involved in both the RECs and the CCs; the geographical scope in which they develop, and the purposes that these two legal forms intended to achieve. Through a literature review and the analysis of EU, national and regional legislations, the paper aims at (1) clarifying the main features of RECs and the CCs in Italy; (2) exploring the main differences between CCs and the other legal forms of cooperative (e.g., mutual cooperative, cooperative benefit, etc.) and assessing the extent to which CCs are more suitable to implement renewable energy communities. As a result of the literature and regulatory review, several similarities between CCs and RECs can be detected, particularly, in reference to the strategic valorization of the cooperation between citizens and the local public entities. These similarities allow the authors to provisionally conclude that, in Italy, CCs may be adopted as a tool to implement RECs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sequential cropping in the Biogasdoneright™ (BDR™) system in Italy has recently gained attention to combine food and renewable energy production in a sustainable way, as well as for carbon sequestration. However, little is known on the potential to expand the practice in other regions of Europe. In this paper, sequential crop calendars were developed for different EU climate regions, and the EU biomethane potential of the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sequential crops was estimated for a Conservative_Scenario and a Maximum_Scenario, assuming different percentages of primary crop land dedicated to the practice and biogas yields. A total EU biomethane potential of 46 bcm/yr and 185 bcm/yr was estimated from the AD of sequential crops in the two scenarios, respectively, and the Continental region registered the highest potential compared to the other regions. The additional benefits of the combination of sequential cropping with other agricultural conservation practices and digestate use included in BDR™ systems were also discussed. In conclusion, the paper shows that with appropriate innovations in crop management, sequential cropping could be applied in different agroclimatic regions of Europe, contributing to climate and renewable energy targets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to broaden the concept of Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB), assessing its suitability to the emerging grid-based energy sharing models. The energy exchange between two buildings with shifted load schedules, namely, a new residential NZEB (prosumer) and an existing school building (consumer), is analysed to investigate energy sharing dynamics. The buildings are in Southern Italy, a region with high solar radiation. The model of the existing school building is calibrated on measured data and the study is performed by dynamic energy simulation. Three energy sharing scenarios based on the design of a photovoltaic system installed on the roof of the NZEB have been investigated, i.e., PV system peak power designed: to satisfy the NZEB target on annual basis; to satisfy the NZEB target on monthly basis; to fully exploit the available roof area of the NZEB. Considering annual and monthly net energy balances, oversizing the NZEB PV system leads to the compensation of a high share of school building non-renewable energy consumption. However, self-consumption analysis performed on hourly basis shows that increasing the PV system size negatively affects the self-consumption rate of the renewable energy community, and the presence of the school building only mitigates this effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper aims to analyze the evolution of oil prices and renewable energy production in Italy during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis with daily data for the period January 2020-September 2020 through several time series techniques (long memory test and spectral causality analysis) and Wavelet Analysis tools. Italy has been the first country all over the world to be severely hit by the pandemic, reacting immediately with strong restrictive measures. The applied results show that oil prices and renewable energy sources were highly correlated during the pandemic shock. Moreover, causality tests reveal a unidirectional flow running from solar, hydro, and wind sources to oil prices, highlighting the relevance of the effect of the energy transition on the oil market. It is also imperative for a country that is a net energy resources importer to achieve a more sustainable way of production and accelerate the energy transition process, especially during phases of high fossil fuel prices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the energy transition, focusing on the decisions to be taken about the change in the energy conversion capacity of specified portion of the universe, such as industrial or domestic districts, regions, countries, etc. Conversion capacity is intended here as the set of all energy conversion and storage units characterized by type, size and number, and interacting with the natural gas and electricity grids. The goal is to find guidelines for new installations, obtained by simulations of a model able to describe properly the behavior of each energy conversion technology and the interaction with grids. The model is based on a traditional MILNP approach, but contains unique features in the literature, which allow to obtain results of general validity for applications to very different geographical areas, or to countries including very different regions that transmit energy with each other or export/import it from abroad. The main novelty of this work is to identify the best planning for the decarbonisation of energy demand sectors, according to the criterion of minimum cost, both at global and at regional level. The results applied to the case of Italy allow identifying clearly the energy demand sectors to which new installations should be applied first to minimize the cost for the total energy system, and the units that must be foreseen to satisfy these energy demands, i.e. a precise strategy for the energy transition towards a 100% renewable system. • A multi-regional model is built to find the most convenient energy transition path. • General guidelines for Western countries are derived from the Italian case study. • Replacement of boilers with heat pumps allows increasing RES share from 20 to 30%. • For RES share >60%, PtG is the low-carbon strategy for high temperature heat demand. • Transportation is the last energy sector that should be decarbonized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater treatment plants are highly energy-intensive systems. This research uses Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to determine the impacts generated during the operation of a wastewater treatment plant. Three different scenarios are analyzed: a baseline scenario that considers a conventional activated sludge treatment technology exploiting data from an existing plant located in central Italy, a second scenario that involves the implementation of MBR technology applied to the baseline scenario, and finally a third scenario that consists of the addition of an anaerobic digester that allows energy recovery from biogas production, followed by a photovoltaic plant capable of supplying the plant energy demand. Global warming potential, eutrophication, and acidification are the environmental categories considered most relevant to emissions. The results showed that the effluent had the highest impact in terms of CO2 equivalent in all three situations due to the presence of N2O. Since emissions from biological processes, transportation, and wastewater are almost similar in all three scenarios, it is preferable to focus on the environmental impacts associated with energy consumption. The third scenario involves careful resource management and the use of treatment technologies that allow for a reduction in the use of nonrenewable energy sources in favor of renewable ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Renewable energy communities (RECs) have been gaining momentum around the world, as a way to promote sustainable development and combat climate change. These communities are typically composed of individuals, businesses, and organizations that come together to invest in and promote the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydraulic power. This article focuses on the benefits that renewable energy communities bring to a territory through the diffusion of renewable energy systems, tackling different issues like local depopulation, increasing energy prices, and a lack of jobs, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The novelty of this article lies in the results from the first-of-its-kind national call within the Next Appennino program, part of the National Complementary plan, aimed at the formation and proliferation of RECs in the area severed by the 2009 and 2016 earthquakes in Italy, as a way to add social, environmental, and sustainable value to the reconstruction of this territory. The data refer to the municipality of Castelraimondo and Unione Montana dei Monti Azzurri (a consortium of mountain municipalities), both located in the Marche region. Analysis of the consumer and prosumer energy needs, as well as the quantification of the exploitable production from the new renewable generators installed, showed that a total of 6.134 GWh/year can be shared by the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The EU has planned the phase-out of new vehicles based on internal combustion engines in favor of high-efficiency battery electric vehicles (BEV) by 2035 (Fit for 55 package). However, many doubts remain about the effectiveness of this choice for each country of the Union in terms of CO2 emissions reduction, as each State is characterized by a different carbon intensity related to the production of electricity needed to manufacture and recharge vehicles. This study seeks to explore the Italian case. To this aim, carbon intensities related to electricity production were calculated considering both the Italian electricity mix production in 2022 and those envisaged in 2035, considering two energy scenarios based on different introductions of renewable energy sources (RES). Afterward, the values obtained were adopted for determining the CO2 emissions related to the whole production process of battery systems in Italy (emissions from mining and refining, scrap materials, and final assembly included) by comparing some of the most up-to-date Life-Cycle Assessment (LCA) analyses related to the manufacturing cycle of the batteries. Finally, the results were adopted to calculate the starting carbon debit for A, B, C, and M car segments for Mild Hybrid, Full Hybrid, and Full Electric powertrains. At the same time, statistical road fuel/electricity consumption data were collected and overall CO2 emissions were calculated for the same vehicles adopting a dynamic approach and plotted for a defined distance, so as to determine break-even points with respect to the cumulative (i.e., from battery and road) carbon emissions. The results showed that advantages related to electric vehicles are significant only if a low carbon intensity related to electricity production is reached by means of a very high introduction of RES, thus keeping the door open for innovative hybrid powertrain technologies, if fed with low carbon fuels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present communication is focused predominantly on important R&D solutions relevant to renewable energy technologies covering the following: (i) Innovative heat transfer fluid and thermal storage technology based on a molten salt mixture developed by ENEA for large-scale heat storage. The system uses a parabolic trough collector, compared with diathermic oil, which allows higher operating temperature, resulting in significant benefits to the plant's operation, safety and the environment. (ii) The world's first solar disk powered by air micro turbine developed by ENEA. (iii) An innovative steam-explosion prototype plant installed at ENEA for the pre-treatment of lignocellulosic biomass and the fractionation of bio components to generate ethanol from lignocellulosic material using hemicellulose and lignin. (iv) The production of hydrogen-enriched biogas using steam as the gasification agent, which helps in obtaining nearly nitrogen-free product gas and with a high calorific value of around 12 MJ/Nm3 dry gas and a high percentage of hydrogen (up to 55%) while using steam as the gasifying agent in the presence of a catalyst. (v) A rotary kiln plant, with the main purpose being to develop and optimize a thermo-chemical process to convert used rubber tyres so as to recover material and energy, as well as other solid products, with high value-added "Activated carbon" and synthesis gas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Community energy is a buzzword that has historically included various type of experiences. In 2018, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) legally defined renewable energy communities (RECs). Based on the first pilot projects and on the Italian legal framework, a possible REC configuration of municipal initiative with a high replicability potential is one in which a photovoltaic system is installed in educational buildings and shares energy with neighbouring residential consumers. This analysis presents an economical evaluation of different possible scenarios depending on variables such as solar radiation, system capacity, fraction of self-consumption within the REC, installation costs and energy prices. All the scenarios identified and analysed show positive economic indexes, although the energy and economic results may significantly vary depending on the variables studied. In the analysed case studies, the Net Present Value (after 20 years) is between kEUR 51 and kEUR 478; the internal rate of return is between 9.5% and 88%; the payback time is between 13.6 years and 1.1 years. The results of this analysis are relevant as they allow us to better understand the critical factors that can enable REC in providing local economic and social benefits to have a real impact on energy poverty or on the provision of local social services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar energy has become an increasingly important part of the global energy mix. In Italy, the photovoltaic power installed has grown by 40% since 2015, which raises the issue of land use and occupation. A viable alternative, already experienced in India, is placing solar panels on the top of water canals (Canal-Top—in Italian, "Canalvoltaico"). It is a relatively new and innovative approach to solar energy installation that offers several advantages including the potential to generate renewable energy without occupying additional land, reduce water evaporation from canals, and improve water quality by reducing algae growth. The article explores various Canal-Top solar projects over the world; then, a feasible application in the Italian region "Emilia-Romagna" is discussed, evaluating two potential construction designs. The primary aim is to establish a capital expenditure cost framework, offering reference values currently lacking in the extant literature and industry studies pertaining to Italy. Moreover, the study addresses additional key factors, including water savings, maintenance considerations, and safety implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper deals with an infrastructure digitization policy to optimize maintenance processes and energy efficiency to transform port areas to ZED (Zero Energy District). The Lazio Region started the process for all its ports in 2020. The Anzio port started and developed as a pilot project as it is a particularly representative sample for the Mediterranean Sea reality due to its geomorphological conformation. The study aimed to develop energy-saving procedures and strategies and integrate production systems from Renewable Energy Systems (RESs) for sustainable mobility. In the article, these strategies are described in detail and energy analysis is carried out, starting from the current state and demonstrating the potential energy self-sufficiency of the infrastructure. Finally, the investigation's potential utilizing a Digital Twin (DT) of the area is highlighted. Furthermore, the BIM (Building Information Modeling) and GIS (Geographic Information System) combining possibility to maximize the energy efficiency measures beneficial impact are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, environmental and energy issues attract a lot of attention in the civil buildings sector, leading to the emergence of new technologies and new targets, which include Net Zero Energy Buildings (NZEBs). However, despite the great response in scientific research, the spread of NZEBs in Europe is quite limited. This is due not only to the lack of transposition of the related European Directives into the various national legislations, but also to the high initial cost of such high-performance buildings. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate how different energy retrofit strategies on existing buildings can lead to the achievement of the NZEB target if encouraged by tax incentives, at zero or almost zero cost. The introduction of tax incentives by individual EU member states would allow the spread of NZEBs that are still underdeveloped, especially in highly urbanized contexts. A suitable building energy dynamic simulation software has been used. The case study refers to a villa located in Southern Italy and for which different energy retrofit strategies are proposed to reach the NZEB target. For each case, an energy and economic evaluation is carried out to evaluate the feasibility of the interventions, exploiting the so-called "Super-Eco-Bonus 110%" incentive. The main results highlight that among the various solutions, the greatest energy cost reductions are obtained with the use of heat pump generators. Furthermore, the solution with the biomass boiler allows the use of a smaller number of photovoltaic panels to meet the yearly energy balance of the NZEB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of new methods for the correct disposal of waste is unavoidable for any city that aims to become eco-friendly. Waste management is no exception. In the modern era, the treatment and disposal of infectious waste should be seen as an opportunity to generate renewable energy, resource efficiency, and, above all, to improve the population's quality of life. Northern Italy currently produces 66,600 tons/year of infectious waste, mostly treated through incineration plants. This research aims to explore a more ecological and sustainable solution, thereby contributing one more step toward achieving better cities for all. Particularly, this paper presents a conceptual design of the main sterilization chamber for infectious waste. The methodology selected was Design Thinking (DT), since it has a user-centered approach which allows for co-design and the inclusion of the target population. This study demonstrates to the possibility of obtaining feasible results based on the user's needs through the application of DT as a framework for engineering design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy has reconsidered incentives on Renewable Energy Sources (RES) to implement the EU clean energy transition and Renewable Energy Communities (REC). Legislation on RECs shifted the focus of incentives from production to self-consumptions. In this paper, the REC model is studied in a minor island disconnected from the national grid, with strongly seasonal energy load and water demand. This is a typical Mediterranean scenario where energy demand is covered by Diesel gensets and water supply is provided with tankers. The implementation of RES is investigated, exploiting the current REC model of incentives. Two sub-optimal REC configurations were defined using time-dependent simulations on pyRES, an in-house code for energy systems. Results show the economical unfeasibility of REC when there is a poor mix of users. In contrast, REC can achieve economic profitability including industrial demand of a desalination unit (DES). The increase of self-consumption guaranteed from the DES allows to increase the NPV of the community and results in major cuts in CO 2 emissions (60% of those related to water supply and 10% of those from Diesel gensets) and a reduction of fuel costs of 22%. This method can be applied to investigate the performance of a REC in a local environment and help stakeholders in planning the expansions of RECs on the territory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a flower-shaped shading system with integrated tracking photovoltaic, suitable for sustainable extensive urban coverages, is designed. Detailed photovoltaic energy yield simulations with a single-diode model approach are performed to disclose the potential of the proposed tracking photovoltaic shading device (PVSD). Simulations are performed with reference to a case study. A double-layer space truss is used to house the innovative modular photovoltaic tracking system, and the first application is envisaged for the coverage of a public market area of a sunny municipality in Southern Italy. By comparing it with the traditional photovoltaic fixed system, the results of the simulations show a steadier energy generation of the new PVSD, and it also provides better coverage with renewable energy during the hours of the day when the traditional system produces low electric energy. Lastly, an early interactive prototype of the PVSD system is presented. The tracking mechanism is carefully designed, 3D-printed at a small scale and tested with a motorized dynamic system controlled by a microcontroller board. The realization of the physical prototype and the engineering of the movement mechanism confirmed the feasibility and the correct functioning of the conceived system opening to real-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent diffusion of RES (Renewable Energy Sources), considering the electric energy produced by photovoltaic and wind plants, brought to light the problem of the unpredictable nature of wind and solar energy. P2G (Power to Gas) implementation seems to be the right solution, transforming curtailed energy in hydrogen. The choice of the settlement of P2G plants is linked to many factors like the distances between the gas grid and the settlement of RES plants, the transportation networks, the energy production, and population distribution. In light of this, the implementation of a Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) into a Geographic Information System (GIS) processing represents a good strategy to achieve the goal in a specific territorial asset. In this work, this method has been applied to the case of study of Sicily (Italy). The paper shows in detail the geomatic semi-automated processing that allows to find the set of possible solutions and further to choose the best localization for new P2G plants, connected to a Relational Database Management System (RDBMS) and integrated with a WebGIS visualization for real-time analysis. This system is useful for the management, the development, and the study of hydrogen technologies, in order to link the electrical network and the gas network datasets with economical and infrastructural assets through GIS processing. In the future new factors will join in the process as policies on hydrogen take shape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy communities using renewable energy sources directly contributes to reduction of climate change gas emissions and energy consumption in the European Union. In addition, energy communities enable citizens to transform from (passive) consumers to prosumers (active consumers and producers) and to play a proactive role in the deployment of energy transition in urban areas. As the transposition of European rules about energy communities into the national laws of EU Member States is very articulated and differentiated, this study proposes a framework to analyze and compare regulatory and financial instruments. This framework is applied to the analysis of the cases of Italy and Spain as representative of European states in which collective actions in the energy sector are not very common, with the aim of highlighting the main critical issues affecting the effectiveness of energy transition strategies and assessing the economic feasibility of energy communities. Based on analysis of regulations and procedures, including at the local level, it appears that municipalities play an important role as promoters of initiatives among citizen communities, while complex bureaucratic procedure is the most critical issue in both countries and can significantly hinder the spread of energy communities. With respect to the different financial incentives available for the formation of energy communities in Italy and Spain, a few cases studies are hypothesized, calculating the most relevant cost-effectiveness indicators, e.g., Net Present Value. It turns out that a project with the same characteristics achieves greater economic feasibility in Italy than in Spain, depending on the type and size of incentives set by national laws and, above all, that financial incentives are necessary to make the formation of energy communities cost-effective and thus to achieve direct citizen involvement in energy transition actions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The new European targets of achieving net zero emissions by 2050 have spurred Italy to aim for a 30% reduction in emissions by 2030, compared with 2005 levels. This goal will be achieved through the promotion of renewable energy sources and energy savings in the residential sector, which remains one of the main sectors accountable for total energy consumption, mainly for heating. This study aims at investigating the potential of some retrofit measures implemented in the Umbria Region, chosen as a case study, to reach the goal by 2030. Using parametric energy simulations with the standard calculation method and artificial neural networks (ANN), the energy consumption of Umbria's building stock and potential CO2 reductions were assessed. Results showed that with current energy policies, a reduction of 28% could be achieved, which is below the goal by 2030, while ANN integration within energy strategies could allow reaching it as early as 2025 or 2029, depending on the restriction set to the ANN and the extent of current energy policies. This study confirmed the potential benefits of using advanced technology in achieving national environmental goals, highlighting that they could be essential tools to be integrated into energy policies to accelerate progress towards ambitious climate goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is driving many actions to decarbonize the most impactful sectors. Among these, the energy sector accounts for almost one third of emissions. Increasing the penetration of renewable energy in the energy mix could easily reduce the emissions of this sector. Theoretically, the target to aim for would be 100% renewable energy production. However, the variable nature of power production from photovoltaic and wind systems, which are expected to play a key role in the energy transition, may pose several limitations to the effective penetration of renewable energy. Many concerns arise when one considers the large diffusion of renewable energy that would be required to meet green targets, and the operating conditions of other systems in charge of compensating for renewable energy variations. This study aims to investigate the potential impact of an increase in the amount of renewable energy installed in a country, particularly in Italy. A simplified approach has been used, based on the assumption of knowing the hourly demand and power generation mix, and multiplying the intermittent power generation by a certain factor. Although not accurate, this approach allows the authors to highlight some critical aspects regarding the potential surplus of renewable energy and the operating conditions of other energy sources. The results of this study may provide a useful basis for a preliminary system evaluation, in particular to assess the feasibility of surplus recovery and the operability of residual generation systems. In addition, it may be easily replicated in other countries for similar estimations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing number of electric vehicles (EVs) affects the national electricity system in terms of power demand and load variation. Turning our attention to Italy, the number of vehicles on the road is 39 million; this represents a major challenge, as they will need to be recharged constantly when the transition to electric technology is complete. If we consider that the average power is 55 GW and the installed system can produce 120 GW of peak power, we can calculate that with only 5% of vehicles in recharging mode, the power demand increases to 126 GW, which is approximately 140% of installed power. The integration of renewable energy sources will help the grid, but this solution is less useful for handling large load variations that negatively affect the grid. In addition, some vehicles committed to public utility must have a reduced stop time and can be considered to have higher priority. The introduction of priorities implies that the power absorption limit cannot be easily introduced by limiting the number of charging vehicles, but rather by computing the power flow that respects constraints and integrates renewable and local storage power contributions. The problem formulated in this manner does not have a unique solution; in this study, the linear programming method is used to optimise renewable resources, local storage, and EVs to mitigate their effects on the grid. Simulations are performed to verify the proposed method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the relationship between nanotechnological innovations, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and ecological footprint for G7 countries within the framework of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC) hypothesis. The study employs panel cointegration tests with structural breaks from 1990-2018. Nanotechnology is expected to reduce environmental degradation by increasing renewable energy consumption and energy saving. In this context, nanotechnological innovations are an essential tool for sustainable development. However, the literature also emphasizes that nanoparticle emissions from nanotechnology can negatively impact human and environmental health in the long term, and these need to be analyzed. In this context, this study is the first to empirically examine the relationship between nanotechnological innovations, renewable energy consumption, economic growth, and ecological footprint within the framework of the EKC hypothesis. The outcomes affirm that all variables are integrated with the long term. The results show that the EKC hypothesis is valid only in the USA. Nanotechnological innovations have a reducing effect on environmental degradation in the USA, whereas; they have an increasing impact on environmental degradation in Italy and the United Kingdom. Renewable energy consumption enhances environmental quality in Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Based on these empirical findings, the government should pioneer to development of new the lowest nanoparticle-emitting nanotechnologies. And that way, it will be possible to encourage energy savings and renewable energy consumption more safely, and the effectiveness of sustainable development policies will increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Italy's first renewable energy community, located in the municipality of Magliano Alpi, was established under Italian Law 8/2020 on Energy Communities in December 2020. The community is composed of eight stakeholders and involves, in addition to public buildings in the municipality of Magliano Alpi, some residential users and small and medium-sized enterprises, realizing public–private cooperation aimed at reducing energy dependence on the public grid and, at the same time, contributing to the decarbonization of the energy sector. This article provides an analysis of the economic and energy performance during the first year of renewable community piloting. The study analyzes data collected with the community energy management system and introduces a number of key performance indices useful for evaluating further development and optimization options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the share of renewable energy in the power generation mix plays a pivotal role in the decarbonisation of power systems, thus facilitating the achievement of international and national targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. Due to the intermittent nature of variable renewable energy, the integration of these sources in power systems requires investments in additional solutions and setting strategies to ensure grid stability and reliability. For that purpose, a prospective modelling was applied to the relatively isolated island named Procida, located in the gulf of Naples in Italy, through the bottom-up optimization model TIMES-Procida for a long-term energy plan where technical solutions, i.e., deployment of photovoltaics on rooftops and storage, and policy scenarios, i.e., energy efficiency, were used to analyse the evolution of the energy system. The introduction of renewable energy could be much more relevant when dealing with islands; they appear as decisive territories for experimentation and analysis of the transformation of all power systems. At year 2050, our results address decarbonisation and energy autonomy. They show that only with high shares of renewable energy will the territory see a noticeable decarbonisation of its economic sectors (up to 24%) and a decreasing dependency on imports (−16.6% compared to low renewable integration). By comparing the results of scenarios including or lacking storage solutions, we showcased how this reflected on the investments in PV and on grid congestion relief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]