Stimulating energy communities, in turbulent times of high energy prices, is increasingly a priority. A very strategic social and economic choice with potential from North to South of 2.500 Gigawatts per year of clean energy. The government plans included in the PNRR favor its diffusion, but there are only about twenty active communities. Is it possible that despite the incentives it is not possible to organize the territories to save up to 1,5 million tons of CO2 emissions? According to the latest data from theOrange Book of the Utilitatis foundation and the Research Center on the Electricity System (RSE) i 2 billion euros of funding can no longer wait.
Well before the high energy prices and the recent indications from the government on the subject of energy after the Russian-Ukrainian crisis, Italy had moved well to favor these special community. Instead it was possible to install a few plants and moreover of size between 20 and 50 kilowatts. Nothing, compared to Germany, Denmark, United Kingdom, Sweden which have hundreds and have proven to be very fast. There, too, there have been incentives to create virtuous mini-circuits between citizens which then had effects on energy prices.
Energy communities, who has to move
There is no shortage of organizational difficulties in Italy, but even more so with the risk of a expensive bills until next fall you have to push harder. On several fronts, it is clear: municipalities, companies, associations, condominiums. We are faced with organizations supporting the ecological transition because they are based on collective self-production and self-consumption. Minister Roberto Cingolani has always spoken of it as a good example of environmental sociality.
In reality, the solids of the PNRR aim to install about 2.000 new megawatts in a few years. In the case of energy communities, if we assume an annual production from photovoltaic panels of around 2.500 GWh we reduce CO1,5 by 2 million tons. Much more than a small industry can do. But “on energy communities – he said Stephen Pareglio, President of the Utilitatis Foundation – we are at the first steps, and our research bears witness to the potential in terms of both the development of renewable energies and price stability". A greater diffusion of energy communities would have the immediate effect of accelerating the targets from renewable sources in the Municipalities.
Energy communities, pilot projects
Reorganizing territories towards energy savings and support for the national electricity grid also increases the efficiency of existing systems. End customers become actors without spending much, an issue on which the Regions should also be spurred. The study looked at some good pilot projects by Acea, A2A, Hera, Iren highlighting the obtainable benefits, from plant engineering to the enhancement of buildings, to the reduction of condominium energy costs.
The last aspect on which the government is focusing is the containment of energy poverty. Those who build a photovoltaic system for self-consumption that does not include the sale of excess energy produced, until 2024 they have a 50% deduction on the total cost up to a maximum of 96 thousand euros. The expense is recovered in 10 years.
