Thermal/Cooling Energy on Local Energy Communities: A Critical Review

Adamantios G Papatsounis,Pantelis N Botsaris,Stefanos Katsavounis

doi:10.3390/en15031117

Adamantios G Papatsounis, Pantelis N Botsaris + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/en15031117

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Journal: Energies	Publication Date: Feb 2, 2022
Citations: 11	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Democritus University of Thrace

Abstract

One of the most crucial factors for energy transition and the incorporation of renewable energy sources into the existing energy map is citizen engagement. Local energy communities (LECs), which are cooperative-based coalitions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the residential building sector, have received increasing attention in the past decade. This is because residential buildings account for almost half of the total energy consumed worldwide. A resounding 75% of it is used for thermal energy consumption, heating and cooling, cooking and bathing. However, the main focus of the literature worldwide is explicitly on electrical LECs, despite the fact that the significant increase in natural gas and oil prices, creates instability in the heating and cooling prices. The scope of this study is to provide an overview of the research field regarding Thermal LECs, using both a thorough literature review as well as bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer software), in order to validate the findings of the review. The results indicate a collective scarcity of literature in the field of thermal/cooling energy communities, despite their proven value to the energy transition. A significant lack of directives, research background and state initiatives in the context of LECs incorporating thermal/cooling energy production, storage and distribution systems, was also observed. Case studies and the applications of such systems are scarce in the available literature, while published studies need further feasibility assessments.

Highlights

In the past 50 years, global CO2 emissions have reached an all-time high in human history
Local energy communities (LECs) are already mentioned in the context of renewable energy and their correlation with local production as well as with legislation has been carried out
Local production is incorporated with district heating and distributed heating systems but not in the context of renewable energy

Summary

Introduction

In the past 50 years, global CO2 emissions have reached an all-time high in human history. Net-zero buildings, renewable fuel production technologies, renewable energy production technologies for electricity and thermal energy [5,6] have been at the forefront of Grant. Reza et al stated that occupancy energy consumption improvements along with a multigeneration system with storage technologies, both electrical and thermal, provide an Energies 2022, 15, 1117 energy and exergy efficiency of over 60% and over 45%, respectively [23]. By proposing a smart district, electrical and heating model, Good N. et al highlighted the importance of thermal storage facilities integrated within buildings, as a means of reducing the effects of expected thermal discomfort in the built environment [25]. Their study indicated that carbon reduction at the community level can be achieved primarily by incorporating a high share of renewables and thermal energy storage technologies [27]

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