They are still little known, but if they go to sea they are a good answer to making local energy systems more efficient. The energy communities, recognized by the last Italian decree with a thousand extensions, are also making room for European planning. A good first comes from Brussels loan tranche of 6 million euros with the e-Neuron project. Italy entered it with Enea, as coordinator, with the Marche Polytechnic University and with the ICONS Foundation. The team brings together 17 partners from 8 countries with the aim of structuring efficiency micro-circuits.
The money is used to plan in the coming months integrated energy systems in four optimal locations: the Montedago district in Ancona, Bydgosz in Poland, Skagerak in Norway, Lisbon in Portugal. It starts with a platform shared by local energy consumers. The sense of community lies in the mutual knowledge of needs, of the sources used, and ultimately of the savings that can be achieved. In a second phase – explains Enea – the initiative will focus on the optimal and sustainable use of multiple energy vectors, considering both short- and long-term priorities. In Lisbon, for example, the community identifies with the naval base made available by the Portuguese Navy.
For families and businesses these communities all go towards decarbonisation and the coveted goal of reducing polluting sources. At the same time they reinforce those principles of green graduality because they integrate and allow clean energy to be exchanged between the interested parties. The economic aspects of savings and ecological awareness will grow as the actors - consumers measure the benefits deriving from the use of non-polluting sources.
In Italy this is possible thanks to the last decree of March which allows the production and exchange of energy from clean sources in condominiums and between companies. A market that has 2,6 million condominiums, who, if they install solar energy systems, can share it with everyone else. The experimentation of e-Neuron may have important sequels in other Regions. Let's think of those places where the electricity consumed still comes from gas or combined cycle plants. That energy would be counterbalanced by systems with low harmful emissions and capable of even helping sustainable mobility. An experimentation, in conclusion, not an end in itself.
