Planning of a Smart Local Energy Community: The Case of Berchidda Municipality (Italy)

Abstract

Recent strategic policies and regulations dealing with market liberalization and decarbonization plans, such as the European directives contained in the recent EU Clean Energy for All Europeans Package, are seeking to promote new roles for citizens in the management of the self-produced renewable energy and the development of local energy markets. In this context, this paper aims at presenting the planning actions for the transition of the current passive distribution system of the Municipality of Berchidda (Italy) towards a smart local energy community. This planning study represents the first stage of a development action financed by the Sardinian Region, whose Regional Energetic and Environmental Plan identifies the Municipality of Berchidda as a priority area to focus the experimental actions for innovative smart grids and intelligent energy management. The project, named “Berchidda Energy 4.0”, focuses on increasing the energy efficiency of the community by boosting local renewable generation production and maximizing its self-consumption, also with the support of storage systems, as well as increasing the active involvement of the consumers that will be equipped with a smart home automation system for demand response applications.