Analysis of thermal and electrical energy consumption of Parma public buildings and modelling of a Renewable Energy Community in the city centre

One of the main challenges our society is facing today is climate change, mainly caused by the combustion of fossil fuels emitting greenhouse gases (GHG) and the uncontrolled use of natural resources. National governments and international organizations have started to define plans and actions to limit global warming. In 1997 at the Conference of Parties (COP) 3 in Kyoto the participants signed the Kyoto protocol, committing to collaborate for reducing climate-altering emissions. To fulfil the international commitments, the European Union has adopted new normative frameworks and launched many initiatives. At the national level, the Italian National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) 2030 established the national objectives and strategies at 2030 regarding energy efficiency, use of RES, reduction of GHGs, regulation of energy market, smart mobility. Urban areas are the main responsible for GHGs emissions and waste production but at the same time they can be the centre of changes in the economic and social models. Local administrations are crucial player for the green transition of cities. In front of rising energy costs and climate emergency, public authorities face both the challenge of reducing the costs of public management and increase sustainability: these goals can be achieved combining measures of energy optimization and promotion of RES. The buildings’ sector is a crucial one: in European countries buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption and 36% of GHGs emission related to energy use. This thesis focuses on a stock of public buildings and utilities managed by the Parma public administration. Around 90 buildings are considered to evaluate their thermal and electrical energy consumption from 2018 to 2022 in order to identify the most energy-consuming and less energy efficient; later three buildings and a parking are considered for the modelling of a renewable energy community (REC) located in the city centre alimented by photovoltaic carports.