• Energy Research

Abstract District Heating systems are an interesting opportunity for the increase of renewable energy share in the heating and cooling sector. The possibility of a centralized heat production allows the integration of multiple sources, including RES such as biomass, heat pumps and solar energy. This paper provides an operation analysis of the energy performance of large scale solar collectors supplying heat to DH systems in Denmark. Thanks to the availability of hourly data it has been possible to track the evolution of the collectors’ performance throughout the year, and compare it with the available radiation. The results show the good reliability of such systems, which are generally able to convert 40% to 60% of the available radiation, with annual production yields higher than 400 kWh/m2y. The conversion efficiency shows some seasonal variations, being the winter months the less favorable, probably because of a lower direct radiation. The DH systems considered in the study show a similar performance but with some differences: other parameters such as slope, azimuth and operating temperatures could be the causes of these variations.

Abstract District Heating systems are an interesting opportunity for the increase of renewable energy share in the heating and cooling sector. The possibility of a centralized heat production allows the integration of multiple sources, including RES such as biomass, heat pumps and solar energy. This paper provides an operation analysis of the energy performance of large scale solar collectors supplying heat to DH systems in Denmark. Thanks to the availability of hourly data it has been possible to track the evolution of the collectors’ performance throughout the year, and compare it with the available radiation. The results show the good reliability of such systems, which are generally able to convert 40% to 60% of the available radiation, with annual production yields higher than 400 kWh/m2y. The conversion efficiency shows some seasonal variations, being the winter months the less favorable, probably because of a lower direct radiation. The DH systems considered in the study show a similar performance but with some differences: other parameters such as slope, azimuth and operating temperatures could be the causes of these variations.

Abstract The transport sector remains heavily reliant on oil products, and it is among those that are considered harder to decarbonize, especially in some specific segments. Considering public transport, there is currently a significant interest in electrifying urban buses, especially for some routes that are well suited for the current characteristics of battery electric buses. However, for some applications, including long-distance buses, biomethane could play an important role in contributing to the decarbonisation of the sector, especially considering the important part of the current fleet in Italy that is already operating on fossil natural gas. This analysis presents a comparison of the potential role of biomethane to support public transport decarbonization in Italy, by estimating CO2 equivalent emissions savings considering the current biogas plants and natural gas buses in Italian cities. An additional evaluation is performed considering the future expected evolution of biomethane production in line with the new Piano Nazionale Integrato per l’Energia e il Clima, that aims to a total production of 5.7 bcm by 2030, as well as the expected 1.5 bcm of biomethane allocated to the transport sector. Within these maximum potential levels, the results of the analysis demonstrate the important savings that can be achieved with biomethane, especially when exploiting specific feedstocks that have a very low impact in terms of well-to-wheels emissions. Biomethane can represent an interesting complement to electric buses, as it can exploit the already existing fleet based on natural gas, and it also shows a number of advantages on routes that are not suitable for electric buses.

Abstract The transport sector remains heavily reliant on oil products, and it is among those that are considered harder to decarbonize, especially in some specific segments. Considering public transport, there is currently a significant interest in electrifying urban buses, especially for some routes that are well suited for the current characteristics of battery electric buses. However, for some applications, including long-distance buses, biomethane could play an important role in contributing to the decarbonisation of the sector, especially considering the important part of the current fleet in Italy that is already operating on fossil natural gas. This analysis presents a comparison of the potential role of biomethane to support public transport decarbonization in Italy, by estimating CO2 equivalent emissions savings considering the current biogas plants and natural gas buses in Italian cities. An additional evaluation is performed considering the future expected evolution of biomethane production in line with the new Piano Nazionale Integrato per l’Energia e il Clima, that aims to a total production of 5.7 bcm by 2030, as well as the expected 1.5 bcm of biomethane allocated to the transport sector. Within these maximum potential levels, the results of the analysis demonstrate the important savings that can be achieved with biomethane, especially when exploiting specific feedstocks that have a very low impact in terms of well-to-wheels emissions. Biomethane can represent an interesting complement to electric buses, as it can exploit the already existing fleet based on natural gas, and it also shows a number of advantages on routes that are not suitable for electric buses.

Abstract Digital technologies have the potential to make the transport system more connected, intelligent, efficient, reliable and sustainable. That is, digital technologies could fundamentally transform how people and goods are moved, with significant impacts on transport demand and on the related energy consumption and environmental impacts. This article proposes a scenario analysis for the future of European passenger transport, by evaluating the potential effects of digitalization on mobility demand, energy consumption and CO2 emissions under different assumptions. The analysis illustrates that the penetration of digital technologies can lead to opposite effects with regard to both energy consumption and emissions. Two opposite scenarios are compared, to evaluate the effects of a “responsible” digitalization, in the direction of a sustainable mobility, against a “selfish” digitalization, where the final users maximize their utility. The likelihood of these two possible pathways is related to multiple drivers, including users’ behavior, economic conditions and transport and environmental policies. Results show the variability range of the potential effects on energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Europe by 2030 and 2050, by considering digitalization trends including Mobility as a Service, Shared Mobility and Autonomous Vehicles. The variability of key parameters is evaluated in a dedicated sensitivity analysis, where the effects of electric vehicles, electricity generation mixes and vehicles’ efficiency improvements are assessed. The article concludes that in order to fully exploit the advantages of digitalization, proper policies are needed to support an efficient and effective deployment of available technologies through an optimized and shared use of alternative transport options.

Abstract Digital technologies have the potential to make the transport system more connected, intelligent, efficient, reliable and sustainable. That is, digital technologies could fundamentally transform how people and goods are moved, with significant impacts on transport demand and on the related energy consumption and environmental impacts. This article proposes a scenario analysis for the future of European passenger transport, by evaluating the potential effects of digitalization on mobility demand, energy consumption and CO2 emissions under different assumptions. The analysis illustrates that the penetration of digital technologies can lead to opposite effects with regard to both energy consumption and emissions. Two opposite scenarios are compared, to evaluate the effects of a “responsible” digitalization, in the direction of a sustainable mobility, against a “selfish” digitalization, where the final users maximize their utility. The likelihood of these two possible pathways is related to multiple drivers, including users’ behavior, economic conditions and transport and environmental policies. Results show the variability range of the potential effects on energy consumption and CO2 emissions in Europe by 2030 and 2050, by considering digitalization trends including Mobility as a Service, Shared Mobility and Autonomous Vehicles. The variability of key parameters is evaluated in a dedicated sensitivity analysis, where the effects of electric vehicles, electricity generation mixes and vehicles’ efficiency improvements are assessed. The article concludes that in order to fully exploit the advantages of digitalization, proper policies are needed to support an efficient and effective deployment of available technologies through an optimized and shared use of alternative transport options.

Within the framework of defining a new energy paradigm to address climate change and other global challenges, the energy community model is gaining interest in several countries, especially in Europe. This article analyses the literature and experiences of organisational forms that fall under the definition of energy communities in a broad sense, in relation to their ability to bring improvements to the social, environmental and economic dimensions, and to ensure durability and replicability. The main elements that constitute a complete, albeit simplified, model of energy community are identified and analysed. The legislative and regulatory frameworks, technologies and social innovation frameworks, identified here as enabling elements, are discussed, as well as the elements of the energy community business models and the impacts generated at the environmental and energy, economic and social levels. The transformation potential of energy communities is confirmed as more than promising. However, in order to develop as a sustainable and replicable model capable of achieving social and environmental goals, as well as economic stability, further significant research and experimentation, following a cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach and strong political leadership, are needed.

Within the framework of defining a new energy paradigm to address climate change and other global challenges, the energy community model is gaining interest in several countries, especially in Europe. This article analyses the literature and experiences of organisational forms that fall under the definition of energy communities in a broad sense, in relation to their ability to bring improvements to the social, environmental and economic dimensions, and to ensure durability and replicability. The main elements that constitute a complete, albeit simplified, model of energy community are identified and analysed. The legislative and regulatory frameworks, technologies and social innovation frameworks, identified here as enabling elements, are discussed, as well as the elements of the energy community business models and the impacts generated at the environmental and energy, economic and social levels. The transformation potential of energy communities is confirmed as more than promising. However, in order to develop as a sustainable and replicable model capable of achieving social and environmental goals, as well as economic stability, further significant research and experimentation, following a cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach and strong political leadership, are needed.