Technical-Economical Feasibility Study for a Renewable Energy Community: The Cluster "Dora 5 Laghi"

In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the need to transition to more sustainable and environmentally friendly sources of energy. The finite nature of fossil fuels and the urgent global challenge of climate change have spurred the development and adoption of renewable energy technologies. Among the emerging trends in this field is the concept of Renewable Energy Communities, which are revolutionizing the way we generate, distribute, and consume energy. Renewable energy communities are localized networks that harness and distribute renewable energy resources within a specific area, such as a neighbourhood, village, or town. These communities are driven by a shared vision of sustainability, self-sufficiency, and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. They empower individuals, households, and businesses to actively participate in the production and consumption of renewable energy, transforming them from mere consumers into active prosumers to the clean energy transition. Nowadays REC’s projects are developed mainly by Public Administrations in small municipalities. Starting with an overview of the current regulatory framework, the following part is dedicated to analysing a real Case Study, focused on the REC Dora5laghi, made up of six small municipalities in Piedmont, which will be built in 2024 through a partnership with Environment Park. This was possible thanks to the internship I did in Environment Park, during which I had the opportunity to follow the development of REC’s projects. Through the Case Study it was possible to define a methodology to assess its technical-economic feasibility and to highlight the advantages that such projects bring in a community, as well as current weaknesses and obstacles faced when approaching them. The hourly energy consumption is assessed considering municipalities’ end users and obtaining data from their electricity bills. The solar PV production is computed through the use of GIS tools and the PVGIS portal. The REC's energy performance is assessed through the shared energy, the self-consumption, and the self-sufficiency indexes. Besides, a cost-optimal analysis evaluates its economic feasibility, considering investment cost and economic incentives. A sensitivity analysis was carried out in order to consider a variable electricity price and a fluctuating discount rate. In the end, benefits of different nature are considered to evaluate the positive impact on the territory.