Energy Community on the Island of Ischia

This thesis explores the establishment of a Renewable Energy Community (REC) on the island of Ischia, focusing on the environmental, economic and social benefits of shared renewable energy use among local members. The project aligns with the European Union’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote a sustainable energy transition by actively involving citizens, businesses and institutions in the production and consumption of renewable energy generated locally. The Italian regulatory framework supporting renewable energy communities was analyzed, with particular focus on key legislation, including the transposition of the European RED II Directive. Recent regulations provide incentives and operational guidelines for self-consumption, facilitating the financial sustainability of communities. The technical planning for Ischia’s renewable community includes the project of new photovoltaic systems, optimized to balance energy production with the demand of each community member. The study includes a detailed analysis of the energy consumption patterns of various community users, such as a school, a supermarket, a bus station, a hotel, residential households and electric vehicle charging stations. Energy data for each member was carefully collected and analyzed, enabling an in-depth understanding of individual and collective energy needs throughout different hours of the day and periods of the year. To highlight opportunities for optimizing self-consumption, each member consumption has been categorized according to main time bands: peak hours (F1), intermediate hours (F2) and off-peak hours (F3). Additionally, an economic analysis was conducted to evaluate the financial incentives available to the community and to estimate the return on investment for the REC community. This section considers government incentives, such as subsidies for shared energy use, which improve the economic appeal of the REC. The analysis also includes an estimate of the community’s investment payback period, supporting the project’s financial sustainability. This thesis illustrates how RECs contribute to European renewable energy goals by promoting decentralised energy systems. The results emphasize the potential of RECs to reduce dependence on large energy providers and centralised systems, lower costs and foster resilience and sustainability, offering a replicable model for other communities aiming to adopt renewable energy and to achieve a greater reliance on the energy self-sufficiency.