Case study of electric and DHW energy communities in a Mediterranean district. (May 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Masip, X.; Fuster-Palop, Enrique; Prades-Gil, C.; Viana-Fons, Joan D.; Payá, Jorge; Navarro-Peris, Emilio
• Is Part Of: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews. Volume 178(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-05
• Subjects: Energy communities -- Energy transition -- Distributed energy -- Photovoltaics -- Domestic hot water -- Positive energy districts -- Heat pumps; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2023.113234
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1364-0321

Abstract

Abstract: Energy communities can play a key role to move towxards a low-carbon and decentralized energy system with higher penetration of renewable energies, offering new opportunities for citizens to actively participate in the energy transition. However, the term energy community is practically exclusively addressed in literature as photovoltaic systems shared by several users to cover their electricity needs. The present work describes the georeferenced modelling and assessment of potential domestic hot water energy communities based on heat pumps and photovoltaic energy communities in 150 residential buildings in a representative Mediterranean city. The main objective is to widen the concept of energy communities and to quantify their potential. The aggregated economic and emission savings of domestic hot water in the district can reach up to 85% and 73% respectively for heat pumps, and 22% and 23% respectively with photovoltaic systems. The analysis shows that domestic hot water energy communities should be prioritized if the objective of the decision-maker is to reduce the CO2 emissions. However, photovoltaics energy communities reach higher economic savings. Combining the two energy communities could help reach the Fit for 55 package objectives for 2030, with emission savings up to 56%. The results show that 80% of emission savings can be achieved by acting only on 35% of the buildings. Highlights: DHW and PV energy communities' assessment in a residential Mediterranean district. GIS-based methodology and TRNSYS dynamic energy simulations. Higher emissions savings are obtained with DHW and higher economic with PV case. DHW + PV communities could reduce the district emissions and costs up to 55% and 47%. 80% of emission savings are achieved with acting on only 35% of the buildings.