PROGRAMMA PRIN 2022 - BCALL PRIN2022 D.D. N.104 DEL 2 FEBRUARY 2022

PROJECT TITLE Smart Communities for Resilient Energy Transition – SCORET 

CUP CODE D53D23001600006 

Budget: €  88.876

P.I. or U.R. Coordinator  Prof. Massimo La Scala (Principal Investigator) 

Other Research Units or any Sub-Units

UR: Politecnico di BARI – UR Coordinator: LA SCALA Massimo

UR: Università degli Studi di CAGLIARI – UR Coordinator: GHIANI Emilio

UR: Università degli Studi di ROMA "La Sapienza" – UR Coordinator: MARTIRANO Luigi

UR: Università degli Studi di SALERNO – UR Coordinator: GALDI Vincenzo

UR: Politecnico di MILANO – UR Coordinator: CABIDDU Maria Agostina

Brief project description

The Smart Communities for Resilient Energy Transition - SCORET project was developed with the aim of promoting the energy transition through the design and implementation of Energy Communities based on decentralized, resilient, and sustainable models. The project proposed advanced energy management solutions, combining microgrid and storage technologies with digital technologies and blockchain-based platforms, proposing an innovative network architecture called Grid-Connected Community of Microgrids.

Purpose

The main purpose of the project was to develop models, tools, and methodologies for the design, control, and optimal management of Energy Communities, improving the integration of renewable sources, energy efficiency, and the resilience of distribution networks. The project also aimed to encourage active user participation, the provision of flexibility services, and the adoption of new decentralized energy market models. 

Expected results

The expected results included:

• the development of advanced tools for the planning and optimization of Energy Communities; 

• the definition of innovative architectures of interconnected and collaborative microgrids; 

• the implementation of real-time control strategies for safety and resilience; 

• the integration of digital technologies (e.g. blockchain) to enable energy exchange among prosumers according to the Transactive Energy paradigm; this allows producers and consumers (“prosumers”) to exchange energy directly in real time, also through peer-to-peer (P2P) systems, improving efficiency and promoting the integration of renewable sources

• the analysis of regulatory, economic, and social aspects to promote the large-scale adoption of Energy Communities.

Achieved results 

The project fully achieved the set objectives, producing significant results at both scientific and technological levels.

Advanced models for the management and control of Energy Communities were developed and validated through case studies and real experiments, also using Power Hardware-in-the-Loop (PHIL) technologies.

Solutions were proposed to improve network resilience, including black-start services and coordinated microgrid management strategies. These results appear particularly promising not only for managing emergency conditions in distribution networks of modern electrical systems, but also in relation to isolated or weakly interconnected networks, such as in areas in developing countries or in areas that have experienced critical natural or war-related events. 

In addition, tools for economic and energy optimization, digital platforms for energy trading, and regulatory analyses supporting their implementation in the real context were developed, identifying barriers and opportunities.

The project demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of Energy Communities as key elements for the creation of more sustainable, resilient, and decentralized energy systems, with positive impacts also at the social and economic levels. 

All scientific publications produced within the project, as well as the reports and guidelines intended for regulators and users, are available on the project’s dedicated website, accessible at the following link: https://portale-prin.vercel.app/