FEDECOM - D3.1 - RES and sector coupling potential assessment
Creators: name: Osorio, Andoni
Publisher: name: FEDECOM
Year: 2024

description: One of FEDECOM's objectives is to promote the use of clean and renewable energies aiming to have a positive impact on sustainability, decarbonisation and the optimisation of natural resources. In this line, WP3 will specifically focus on the systematic assessment and planning of RES-based infrastructures and sector coupling configurations. Additionally, it will evaluate relevant future operational scenarios and energy/flexibility trading scenarios. As an initial step in this Work Package (WP3), a pre-feasibility study will be performed. This study serves as a foundation, providing context for the conclusions that will be reached later on. As part of this process, a data collection procedure will be carried out to support not only the analysis presented in this deliverable, but also to provide data input for the planning tools used in subsequent tasks.

First, a summary of the technical and operational characteristics of each pilot site is compiled using documents and content generated during FEDECOM as a basis (3.1). Conclusions such as the gas dependency observed in pilot sites like Ur Beroa and the City Hall, the industrial nature of the Puertollano and Barcelona generation plants or the need for additional flexibility to attain the goal of achieving electrical self-sufficiency in the communities of Pilot 2 (Arena, Lugaggia, Garamè) can be drawn from these descriptions.

Regarding the legal context, mainly focused on the national level of the various countries housing the sites (Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium), the document outlines different regulations. These regulations aim to establish rules for self-consumption, typically falling under the broader regulations governing the national electricity market. Additionally, it covers key national plans for the promotion of renewable energies and laws that refer to mechanisms (compensation, tax reductions, etc.) that benefit and encourage the use of renewable energy sources such as the Belgian Green Certificates and regulations supporting projects aimed at enhancing sustainability and energy efficiency in facilities or buildings (3.2).

The pre-feasibility assessment (5) is categorised based on the field of application, including renewable energies for electricity generation (5.1), renewable energies for heat generation (5.2) and measures targeting the improvement of the sector coupling (5.3). The various analyses rely on an understanding of the context of the pilot sites, potential internal analyses or studies provided by the managing companies of these sites (Giroa-Veolia, Iberdrola, Azienda Elettrica di Masagno, iLeco/aug·e) and also on the use of some geographical tools (4.1) that are employed to assess some specific renewable energy sources.

In addition to analysing the solar and wind potential of the pilots at the national level (Spain, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Belgium) enabling the identification of geographical areas with the highest generation, more concrete changes are also analysed and presented. These include the proposal of particular photovoltaic installations or expansions (Ur Beroa, City Hall, Puertollano, Arena, Brico), proposals focused on the increase of heat pumps and adopting biomass to reduce dependence on natural gas, or even exploring the possibility of replacing it with biogas or hydrogen (Ur Beroa, City Hall). Other considerations involve promoting district heating structures (Lugaggia, Garamè) and installing batteries to make electricity generation more flexible and increase self-consumption (Arena, Garamè, Voorhout) among others.

The data collection process detailed in Section 6 is strongly conditioned by the needs of the planning tools (4.2) to be used in future activities. Given the structural diversity of the pilot sites, it is challenging to universally define the data or metadata that capture these distinctive characteristics. That is why this section describes the unique features and technical challenges that influenced the successful or unsuccessful collection of specific data and consequently, to assess the percentage of compliance with the requirements of the aforementioned planning tools.