Design guidelines for renewable energy communities including end-use electrification scenarios
Isabella Pizzuti, Giovanni Delibra, Alessandro Corsini
Abstract
This study analyzes the impact of demand electrification on the energy and economic performance of renewable energy communities, focusing on photovoltaic systems integrated with heat pumps. Three prosumer typologies—schools, offices, and supermarkets—are examined as potential anchors for communities including residential consumers. A digital model is developed to support time-dependent analysis of energy flows and corresponding economic performance. The tools used include TRNSYS for modelling thermal energy demand, pyRES for simulating energy community configurations, and pymoo for the optimal size of photovoltaic systems. Four scenarios are explored, based on two incentive schemes for urban and rural communities, according to Italian regulations, and two electric load profiles: current demand and end-use electrification with heat pumps for heating and cooling. Results reveal that electrification increases optimal system sizes—up to 20%—for prosumers with energy demands exceeding 200 MWh, enhancing self-consumption but limiting energy surplus and shared energy among members. The optimal size of the community stabilizes around 40 members for systems larger than 50 kW p . The study highlights the need for tailored policies supporting electrification-compatible communities and presents scalable tools for time-dependent energy and economic assessments adaptable to other national contexts.