Designing Renewable Energy Community in Basse di Stura: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Urban Regeneration through the Integration of Urban Design and Renewable Energy Technologies

Since the concept of renewable energy communities (RECs) was first proposed, many scholars and practitioners have consistently emphasized its significance as a citizen-led initiative in promoting low-carbon energy transitions. However, few studies have explored how such communities can be conceived and developed from an urban design perspective, enabling them to serve as an effective spatial pathway for sustainable urban regeneration. This study adopts an urban design perspective to re-examine the concept of RECs within the context of urban design，and to explore their relationship with sustainable urban regeneration. The objective is to investigate how spatial planning and design strategies can be employed to achieve the efficient and sustainable development of RECs. The research first reviews and analyses the current state of studies in this field, based on which the Basse di Stura area in Turin is selected as the case study for in-depth research and practice. Through case analysis, conceptual design, and feasibility assessment, the study gradually develops and presents a comprehensive and practicable urban design scenario and strategy. The findings of the research indicate that incorporating the planning and layout of renewable energy systems (RESs) into the urban design stage can significantly create favourable conditions for their application and ensure flexibility and sustainability for future development. Throughout the research, the study emphasised the importance of fostering synergy between technological advancement and urban design, and identifies the main obstacles and challenges faced during the design and feasibility assessment stages, providing valuable references for academia and policymakers. Furthermore, the study highlights the critical significance of integrating RESs into urban design for achieving sustainable urban development and low-carbon transitions.