Integrating Renewable Energy Communities into Historic Urban Landscapes: A Framework for Sustainable Conservation

The decarbonization of the European energy system to achieve climate neutrality by 2050 presents a significant challenge for existing building stocks, particularly within historic urban landscapes where conservation and modernization should coexist. This study presents the URB-REC project, funded by the European Union – NextGenerationEU, which explores Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) as an ecosystem for inclusive energy transition and urban regeneration. Using Masullas, a small municipality in Sardinia, Italy, as a case study, the research addresses the technical and regulatory complexities of integrating renewable energy into historic areas characterized by stringent landscape constraints and low energy performance. The proposed methodology adopts a multidisciplinary approach, integrating urban, energy, and sustainable mobility planning. To overcome the limitations of individual building-level interventions, the URB-REC model prioritizes the use of public real estate assets and strategic surfaces outside protected historic cores to host collective energy plants. This model enables residents to transition from individual to collective action, mitigating social inequity and energy poverty. The study introduces MyCER, a digital platform designed to monitor energy flows and optimize collective self-consumption in real-time. URB-REC demonstrates that technological innovation, when guided by participatory governance and inclusive design, can preserve cultural identity while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).