An energy community as a platform for local sector coupling: From complex modelling to simulation and implementation

Abstract

This paper presents the reference architecture of a model for sustainable local planning and sector coupling based on an energy-community framework. The proposed approach includes four building blocks: (1) the data-acquisition building block - local energy consumption, (2) the building block for modelling and calculations - local energy conversions, (3) the building block for connecting the infrastructure status and needs with development plans of the energy-network operators and aggregators, and (4) the decision-support building block for local environmental, spatial and energy planning. The proposed approach was tested in a real industrial environment and a local community. Initial simulation results confirmed that excess heat from the energy-intensive company has the potential to replace the natural gas that is currently used for the production of heat in a local district-heating system. The natural gas savings in the district-heating system would be 3,299,676 Nm3, as the excess heat could cover as much as 68.4 % of the required heat for the local community. It has also been proven that complex modelling and simulation of a future sustainable solution can contribute to its optimization, understanding, and acceptance by all stakeholders and thereby increase the potential of the project's implementation.