• Energy Research

Abstract In recent years, Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology has gained interest within the market of charging systems for electric vehicles. This technology can potentially boost the diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs) and consequently contribute in reducing the local air pollution and the related externalities. In this context, an environmental and economic analysis has been performed to estimate the social costs saving derived by the decarbonization of the passenger cars mobility. The benefits evaluated in the analysis are compared to the investment and maintenance costs necessary to install and operate a DWPT infrastructure. This under the basic assumption of the present work that considers the widespread adoption of electric vehicles achievable only in presence of the parallel integration of DWPT systems in the motorway infrastructure. At the same time, the work takes into account the possible variations of the energy mix and the effects related to the increase of the electric energy demand related to the increase of the circulating electric vehicles. The analysis is carried out for the six most populous European countries (i.e. Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and UK) and it indicates as the estimated social costs savings are capable to sustain the investment for a wide integration of DWPT in almost all these countries.

Abstract In recent years, Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology has gained interest within the market of charging systems for electric vehicles. This technology can potentially boost the diffusion of electric vehicles (EVs) and consequently contribute in reducing the local air pollution and the related externalities. In this context, an environmental and economic analysis has been performed to estimate the social costs saving derived by the decarbonization of the passenger cars mobility. The benefits evaluated in the analysis are compared to the investment and maintenance costs necessary to install and operate a DWPT infrastructure. This under the basic assumption of the present work that considers the widespread adoption of electric vehicles achievable only in presence of the parallel integration of DWPT systems in the motorway infrastructure. At the same time, the work takes into account the possible variations of the energy mix and the effects related to the increase of the electric energy demand related to the increase of the circulating electric vehicles. The analysis is carried out for the six most populous European countries (i.e. Italy, France, Germany, Poland, Spain and UK) and it indicates as the estimated social costs savings are capable to sustain the investment for a wide integration of DWPT in almost all these countries.

Abstract This work aims to investigate what kind of impact retrofit scenarios have on “building energy communities” in view of the European Union climate targets on CO2 emission reduction, energy efficiency, and the share of renewable energy. Data-driven retrofit scenarios have been simulated considering a condominium constituted by eighty-seven units, located in the North-West of Italy. Different technology mixes (including roof-top photovoltaic, air-source heat pump, battery energy storage, and electric vehicles chargers) supplying for the electric and head demands have been simulated. The techno-economic feasibility of each retrofit scenario has been evaluated along with its compliance with the EU climate target by a multi-criteria analysis. The retrofit with roof-top photovoltaic systems always leads to positive environmental and economic indicators. Besides, it also reaches the highest internal rate of return of 18.2%. The air-water heat pump helps in reducing the total primary energy demand of −26% and the CO2 emission of −30%. Nonetheless, it introduces electric load-volatility on the electric grid that appears to be even more challenging than the photovoltaic intermittency. This issue can be conditioned by installing a storage system smoothing the heat pump load-volatility. The charge of electric vehicles within the condominium also has a global positive effect as it increasing the self-consumption up to 9.5%. The multi-criteria analysis shows that the diffusion of condominium energy communities by itself does not guarantee the pursue of the European Union decarbonization roadmap. In fact, if the purpose of condominium energy communities is not well channeled to the citizen, by giving them other forms of incentives besides the economic ones, they might still opt for the economic benefit over the environmental one jeopardizing the potential benefit related to energy communities initiatives.

Abstract This work aims to investigate what kind of impact retrofit scenarios have on “building energy communities” in view of the European Union climate targets on CO2 emission reduction, energy efficiency, and the share of renewable energy. Data-driven retrofit scenarios have been simulated considering a condominium constituted by eighty-seven units, located in the North-West of Italy. Different technology mixes (including roof-top photovoltaic, air-source heat pump, battery energy storage, and electric vehicles chargers) supplying for the electric and head demands have been simulated. The techno-economic feasibility of each retrofit scenario has been evaluated along with its compliance with the EU climate target by a multi-criteria analysis. The retrofit with roof-top photovoltaic systems always leads to positive environmental and economic indicators. Besides, it also reaches the highest internal rate of return of 18.2%. The air-water heat pump helps in reducing the total primary energy demand of −26% and the CO2 emission of −30%. Nonetheless, it introduces electric load-volatility on the electric grid that appears to be even more challenging than the photovoltaic intermittency. This issue can be conditioned by installing a storage system smoothing the heat pump load-volatility. The charge of electric vehicles within the condominium also has a global positive effect as it increasing the self-consumption up to 9.5%. The multi-criteria analysis shows that the diffusion of condominium energy communities by itself does not guarantee the pursue of the European Union decarbonization roadmap. In fact, if the purpose of condominium energy communities is not well channeled to the citizen, by giving them other forms of incentives besides the economic ones, they might still opt for the economic benefit over the environmental one jeopardizing the potential benefit related to energy communities initiatives.

Abstract In the mobility sector Electric Vehicles represent one of the main opportunities to ensure strong reduction of local pollution. However, their higher costs compared to gas-fuelled cars are still a barrier for their large diffusions. One possible solutions to increase EVs penetration is their use as storage within households equipped with Renewable Energy Sources enabling a flexible energy management, for instance by the Vehicle-to-Grid and/or Vehicle-to-Home scheme. The aim of this paper is to investigate possible management of the EV battery through an optimization approach capable to minimize the electricity supply costs for an Italian residential end-user with PV, considering battery constraints, such as driving habits. A statistical approach of driver behavior is integrated within the optimization approach to define some possible daily driving patterns. The optimization takes into consideration mobility needs, prices for selling and purchasing electricity and hourly electrical, heating and cooling load profiles of the household. On the basis of these constraints the optimizer identifies when PV overproduction can be either used to charge batteries or to partially cover the load demand of the household. Finally, economic and energy evaluations are performed under Monte Carlo simulations to highlight reliability of potential benefits for the household case study.

Abstract In the mobility sector Electric Vehicles represent one of the main opportunities to ensure strong reduction of local pollution. However, their higher costs compared to gas-fuelled cars are still a barrier for their large diffusions. One possible solutions to increase EVs penetration is their use as storage within households equipped with Renewable Energy Sources enabling a flexible energy management, for instance by the Vehicle-to-Grid and/or Vehicle-to-Home scheme. The aim of this paper is to investigate possible management of the EV battery through an optimization approach capable to minimize the electricity supply costs for an Italian residential end-user with PV, considering battery constraints, such as driving habits. A statistical approach of driver behavior is integrated within the optimization approach to define some possible daily driving patterns. The optimization takes into consideration mobility needs, prices for selling and purchasing electricity and hourly electrical, heating and cooling load profiles of the household. On the basis of these constraints the optimizer identifies when PV overproduction can be either used to charge batteries or to partially cover the load demand of the household. Finally, economic and energy evaluations are performed under Monte Carlo simulations to highlight reliability of potential benefits for the household case study.

Abstract The energy efficiency in buildings could represent one of the main opportunity, within a wide strategic scenario, to achieve energy independence of Palestine. In fact, the reduction of building energy demand due to the implementation of energy efficiency measures leads to a consequent decrease of the energy provision needs. For this reason an analysis of the potential reduction of the energy consumption in building need to be performed and a possible estimation of costs should be identified for defining a energy strategic plan of Palestine. This paper intends to highlight the potential of the energy efficiency measures in different building typologies of Hebron city in Palestine and their impact in the electrical distribution grid. The effectiveness of the different measures are estimated by means of software simulations and their optimal combination is also identified in order to maximize the reduction of energy demands. Finally, the variation of power losses in the distribution grid due to the retrofit action and a preliminary estimation of possible economic effort for the implementation of the proposed actions are also exposed.