Supporting a sustainable multi-energy planning: the case study of Sulcis Iglesiente province in Italy

F. Giudici, S. Ruggeri, E. Garofalo, M. Troncia, J.P. Chaves, S. Maran, F. Pilo

2021 AGU Fall Meeting, Nueva Orleans (Estados Unidos de América). 13-17 diciembre 2021

Resumen:

In the energy transition context, the design of integrated multi-energy systems is key for reaching ambitious sustainabilityobjectives. Due to the intermittent nature of the renewable energy sources, introducing technologies for storing andtransforming energy in different carriers (e.g., electricity, gas, heat) is, in fact, a strategic solution for fully exploiting therenewable power generation, increasing the flexibility of the system, and contributing to the decarbonization.

Although the need to rely on multi-energy systems is widely shared, identifying their optimal design requires the use ofcomplex modelling tools able to characterize the territory, simulate the system dynamics, and evaluate the solutions withrespect to different sustainability objectives.

To support the decarbonization decision-making process, in this work we develop a three-step modelling chain forplanning optimal multi-energy systems at the local scale. More precisely, we first perform a territory characterization byestimating, through different methodologies, input data of renewable resource availability, territory exploitation potential, andenergy demand of electricity and heat.

Then, we carry out a multi-energy analysis identifying Pareto optimal system designs with respect to two sustainabilityobjectives, namely the Net Present Cost and the CO emissions.

Finally, we perform an intersectoral Cost Benefit-Multi Criteria Analysis (CB-MCA) for evaluating the solutions obtainedin the previous step with respect to a wide range of indicators representing energy, economic, and social acceptance aspects.The CBA approach is adopted for evaluating the financial and economic viability of the investment options, while theassessment of non-monetary impacts is performed through the MCA approach.

We apply the modelling chain to the real case study of Sulcis Iglesiente (Sardinia, Italy), a territory characterized bycarbon-intensive industries, recently selected for receiving funding from the Just Transition Fund launched by the EUCommission in the context of the Green Deal.

Results demonstrate the validity of the proposed modelling chain in the identification of the best interventions forsupporting the decarbonization and the sustainable development of Sulcis Iglesiente.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/essoar.10509972.1

Fecha de publicación: 2021-12-13.

Cita:
F. Giudici, S. Ruggeri, E. Garofalo, M. Troncia, J.P. Chaves, S. Maran, F. Pilo, Supporting a sustainable multi-energy planning: the case study of Sulcis Iglesiente province in Italy, 2021 AGU Fall Meeting, Nueva Orleans (Estados Unidos de América). 13-17 diciembre 2021.