An Interactive Platform for Energy Community Decision Support: Stakeholder-Driven Dashboard Design and Scenario Analysis in Italy

This thesis presents the development of an interactive data visualization platform designed to support decision-making within Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). As societies transition away from fossil fuels, RECs are emerging as key players in promoting local, decentralized energy systems—particularly through the use of solar energy. However, effective planning and management in these communities require transparent, accessible, and comprehensible data tools. To address this need, the research adopts a methodology that combines Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Business Intelligence (BI) tools, and stakeholder analysis. The platform is tailored to the needs of diverse actors, including local authorities, citizens, utilities, and investors. A comprehensive review of stakeholder requirements informs the selection of key indicators—such as self-consumption, self-sufficiency, and economic savings—ensuring the platform supports both technical and participatory decision-making. Using real energy production and consumption data, the thesis models various scenarios to visualize the impact of different energy-sharing configurations. The results demonstrate that intuitive dashboards not only improve stakeholder understanding and engagement but also enhance planning capacities and reveal the economic potential of renewable energy investments. Ultimately, this research highlights the importance of user-centered interface design in democratizing energy data, fostering transparency, and empowering communities to take an active role in the sustainable energy transition.