Decarbonising Alpine Energy Communities: A Case Study of Renewable Power Integration in Egna (BZ)
摘要
This study looks at the possible pathways to integrate renewable energy sources in the public premises of Egna municipality, Italy, to satisfy the country’s objectives for 2030 and 2050. Using EnergyPLAN, numerous scenarios were analyzed, with an emphasis on locally accessible resources like solar and hydroelectric power. The study defines a baseline model that represents the year 2023 as a benchmark and then investigates the impact of increasing PV capacity and decarbonising the fuel mix by operating a local power plant by biomass, gradually replacing natural gas. The findings show that the 2030 target of 55% renewable power may be met by keeping current PV and hydropower capacities and changing the fuel mix in cogeneration facilities to incorporate a 25/75 biomass-to-natural gas ratio. Furthermore, raising the biomass share to a 50%, greatly increases renewable energy contribution, resulting in a total of 73.4%. By 2050, renewable energy shares of 94.4% and 97.5% may be achieved by doubling PV capacity and increasing biomass input. These routes result in considerable CO₂ reductions up to 64.6% by 2050, demonstrating how local municipalities may contribute to national energy transition efforts through decentralised, community-based alternatives.