PUBLIC ENERGY HUBS AS COMMUNITY CATALYSTS: A STUDY OF REPLICABLE INCLUSIVE MODELS

Renewable Energy and Solidary Communities (RESCs) are emerging as a key tool to democratize, decarbonize, and decentralize the energy sector. Within the European framework, this study analyzes Positive Energy Districts (PEDs) in the Mediterranean context integral to the goal of zero greenhouse gas emission power generation. The construction of a database dedicated to Italian renewable energy communities that include utility equipment and buildings as social hubs can establish criteria for their performance and replicability. An eight-stage process of constructing and verifying a registry of selected communities identifies the main parameters for assessing the performance of future RESCs. The analysis of the different configurations defines a matrix of relationships between characteristics of RESCs, highlighting potentials and criticalities. The research indicates how the complexity of establishing RESCs needs an integrated vision for the social construction of resource sharing within communities.