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How Can We Frame Energy Communities’ Organisational Models? Insights from the Research ‘Community Energy Map’ in the Italian Context

Author

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  • Lorenzo De Vidovich

    (Department of Political and Social Sciences, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste, Italy)

  • Luca Tricarico

    (Istituto di Ricerca sulla Crescita Sostenibile, IRCRES CNR, Via dei Taurini 19, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Matteo Zulianello

    (RSE S.p.A, Ricerca Sistema Energetico, Via R. Rubattino 54, 20134 Milan, Italy)

Abstract

According to the early transposition of the EU directives by the Italian government, this paper presents some of the outcomes of the qualitative-led applied research titled Community Energy Map , aimed at identifying the main operational models and organisational frameworks put in place for the development of renewable energy communities (RECs). In this respect, the article discusses a threefold subdivision of organisational models to implement RECs: public lead, pluralist, and community energy builders’ model. Furthermore, the paper illustrates in detail three of the nine case studies dedicated to recently launched RECs, conducted through qualitative fieldworks, to investigate the social and local implications generated by these community-led initiatives. The article stresses the relevance of both the local scale and community-led initiatives in the pathway towards a fair and just energy transition, by discussing how RECs define new organisational models of distributed energy systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorenzo De Vidovich & Luca Tricarico & Matteo Zulianello, 2023. "How Can We Frame Energy Communities’ Organisational Models? Insights from the Research ‘Community Energy Map’ in the Italian Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:3:p:1997-:d:1042418
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Simona Barbaro & Grazia Napoli, 2023. "Energy Communities in Urban Areas: Comparison of Energy Strategy and Economic Feasibility in Italy and Spain," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-24, June.
    2. Michael Krug & Maria Rosaria Di Nucci & Lucas Schwarz & Irene Alonso & Isabel Azevedo & Massimo Bastiani & Anna Dyląg & Erik Laes & Arthur Hinsch & Gaidis Klāvs & Ivars Kudreņickis & Pouyan Maleki & G, 2023. "Implementing European Union Provisions and Enabling Frameworks for Renewable Energy Communities in Nine Countries: Progress, Delays, and Gaps," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-29, May.
    3. Anita Tatti & Sibilla Ferroni & Martina Ferrando & Mario Motta & Francesco Causone, 2023. "The Emerging Trends of Renewable Energy Communities’ Development in Italy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-18, April.

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