Smart energy systems for renewable energy communities: A comparative analysis of power-to-X strategies for improving energy self-consumption
Lorenzo Mario Pastore, Gianluigi Lo Basso, Guido Ricciardi, Livio de Santoli
Abstract
Renewable energy communities (RECs) represent the new scheme for promoting the distributed renewable generation, which must be managed to maximise the local energy self-consumption. The aim of this paper is to assess and discuss strengths and weaknesses of small-scale sector coupling strategies in residential RECs by means of a comparative analysis of their applications. Different power-to-X strategies have been applied to twenty-seven REC configurations. The systems have been separately simulated by means of the EnergyPLAN software. Power-to-heat strategy turns out to be the most cost-effective solution to integrate the RES excess, however, its potential often is not enough to fully accommodate it. Power-to-vehicle has low infrastructure costs, but its limit depends on the electric vehicle penetration and citizens’ participation. Exploiting the electric vehicle batteries is always more cost-effective than installing stationary batteries. The competitiveness of power-to-power is extremely linked to the REC electrification level. Power-to-gas is promising in high-RES excess conditions, but rarely represents the best solution due to current high electrolyser costs. The implementation of energy storage systems is crucial for improving the local self-consumption and the cross-sector integration is a better solution in energy, economic and environmental terms than focusing only on the electricity sector.