Energy and Digital Transitions for Energy Communities: Tools and Methodologies to Promote Digitalization in Italy

Abstract

This paper presents an overall concept developed by ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) in the Italian framework of renewable energy communities (RECs). The proposed work is driven by the idea that RECs are part of a long-term vision aimed at achieving the broader concept of smart communities (SCs) through smart energy communities (SECs). SECs are, therefore, the evolution of RECs toward SCs, where ICT (information and communications technology) and digitalization play a pivotal role in fostering and boosting the energy transition and addressing societal challenge goals by 2050. In this scenario, the proposed approach is based on three dimensions, as follows: digital tools, use cases, and the observatory. Digital tools can be utilized at different stages of the creation of RECs, ranging from the design and engagement phase to evaluation, analysis, and the token economy. The second dimension refers to some selected different business cases that are used to test and demonstrate the proposed tools and provide support to specific RECs in the different phases of their creation. Lastly, the EC observatory was created by ENEA to provide necessary support to the market and stakeholders on different aspects, such as data management, economics, legal issues, communication, and regional governance.