Assessing the Optimal Scenario of Collective Self-Consumption Groups in Net Zero Condominiums

The energy transition promoted in European countries to improve the sustainability of the energy sector brings together citizens to generate, share and sell energy produced by locally owned renewable plants. Energy communities (ECs) and collective self-consumption (CSGs) groups are strategic power-sharing models to drive this democratization process in a flexible way. However, these two models face challenges such as regulatory barriers, technical limitations, and social acceptance. In addition, the optimal sizing in terms of consumption and production to locally balance the EC load and generate the best obtainable value for all stakeholders represents another pivotal challenge. In this framework, the study proposes a methodology to assess multiple sizing scenarios of the generation and storage system in condominiums, applying an innovative multi-criteria techno-economic approach that allows to analyze the potential benefits that can be obtained by simulating. A case study of a collective self-consumption group located in a smart building in Italy is developed to assess the relevance of the methodology. The investment case supported by a third-party investor is evaluated and analyzed.