Assessing the impact of micro-generation technologies on local sustainability

The work addresses the role of local energy planning for the introduction of low carbon policies to
achieve challenging climate targets. Taking as reference case an urban area that aims to become Sustainable
Community, several initiatives have been assessed. Two target years, 2020 and 2050, have been analysed
with the aid of EnergyPlan, an integrated energy system model based on the hourly energy demand
and supply able to consider constraints deriving from grid stability. The effects of climate change, defined
by a regional climate model, have been analysed in the long-term scenario. The work focuses on the
impact of a high share of micro-generation technologies for satisfying the energy demand of the building
sector, following an original comprehensive approach that helps a better understanding of the implication
of such low carbon policy. Both solar devices and micro-combined heat and power systems have
been taken into account, the latter covering different technologies (i.e. internal combustion engines, Stirling
engines, microturbines and fuel cells). Results show that the use of a high share of micro-generation
technologies can help to reduce CO2 emissions and enable an increase in large-scale intermittent renewable
production, only if a coordinated local energy plan combined with an optimal operation strategy is
pursued. Moreover the work outlines the importance of developing an integrated energy system for
introducing such technologies that can help to: (i) decarbonise the building sector, (ii) increase energy
security and iii) postpone the investments in new network capacity