RT info:eu-repo/semantics/doctoralThesis
T1 Estudio de la sostenibilidad y energías renovables en comunidades energéticas
A1 Palacios Ferrer, José Andrés
A2 Universidad de Valladolid. Escuela de Doctorado
K1 Energías renovables
K1 Energy Communities
K1 Comunidades energéticas
K1 33 Ciencias Tecnológicas
AB SUMMARY OF THE DOCTORAL THESIS: "STUDY OF SUSTAINABILITY AND RENEWABLE ENERGIES IN ENERGY COMMUNITIES"The doctoral thesis titled *Study of Sustainability and Renewable Energies in Energy Communities* provides a detailed analysis of the role of Local Energy Communities (LECs) as a key tool for the transition to a more sustainable energy system. Throughout its six chapters, the thesis examines regulatory, technological, and economic aspects related to the integration of renewable energies, energy storage, and citizen participation. Below is a structured summary of these chapters, highlighting how they culminate in the analysis of the Berrobi LEC case study in Chapter 5.Chapter 1: Introduction and Theoretical Framework  The first chapter introduces the context of the energy transition driven by the European Green Deal and the EU Directive 2019/944, which promote the creation of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) and Citizen Energy Communities (CECs). These initiatives aim to democratize access to and management of energy through the active participation of citizens. The thesis emphasizes that decentralization and decarbonization of the energy system are fundamental pillars in the fight against climate change, and that LECs can facilitate the achievement of both objectives.Chapter 2: International Comparison of LECs  This chapter analyzes international experiences with LECs, highlighting regulatory and technological differences in countries such as Spain, Germany, Denmark, the United States, and Australia. The analysis concludes that favorable regulation and economic incentives are critical to the success of these projects. In countries like Germany, energy cooperatives have played a crucial role in the expansion of renewable energy, whereas in Spain, LECs are emerging as an innovative model but face financial and energy storage challenges.Chapter 3: Applied Renewable Technologies  The third chapter examines the main renewable technologies powering LECs, particularly solar photovoltaic and wind energy, which are most suitable for local and decentralized environments. The critical role of energy storage, especially batteries, is also explored to mitigate the intermittency of renewable energies. This chapter provides the foundation for understanding the challenge of managing energy surpluses produced by LECs and the need for efficient storage technologies.Chapter 4: Digitalization and Enabling Technologies  This chapter details how digitalization and Energy Management Systems (EMS) are essential for optimizing energy consumption and generation within LECs. Smart grids and real-time control systems enhance energy efficiency, facilitating the integration of renewable sources and reducing operational costs. This technological infrastructure is crucial for the viability of LECs and is reflected in the analysis of the Berrobi case study, where digitalization enables efficient management of energy surpluses.Chapter 5: Case Study of the Berrobi LEC  This chapter examines the case of the Berrobi LEC in the Basque Country, which integrates a photovoltaic installation with energy storage systems to manage energy surpluses and improve collective self-consumption. The photovoltaic installation has a capacity of 33 kWn, with each member of the community holding an equivalent share of 0.5 kWp.  The storage system, consisting of high-capacity batteries, was implemented to mitigate the intermittency of solar energy and optimize the management of surpluses. The Energy Management System (EMS) was calibrated to regulate the injection of energy into the grid, optimize battery charging during peak production times, and discharge energy during periods of high demand, thereby minimizing energy costs. The analysis concludes that energy storage is essential for achieving a self-consumption level of over 90%, reducing energy surpluses to 9%.  Furthermore, it is calculated that in order to make the installation of these batteries viable, a public subsidy covering at least 67% of the initial investment is necessary. This subsidy is crucial for LECs to effectively leverage their energy surpluses and ensure the economic sustainability of the project. Without this support, large-scale storage implementation would be financially unfeasible for most energy communities.Chapter 6: Conclusions and Future Proposals  The thesis concludes that LECs are a powerful tool for advancing the energy transition, but they face technical and financial challenges, particularly concerning energy storage. A future line of research proposes exploring individualized storage systems for each member of the LEC, which could improve efficiency compared to collective storage. The importance of developing public policies that incentivize the use of storage technologies and the implementation of smart grids is also emphasized.In conclusion, the thesis highlights that LECs, supported by an appropriate legal framework and efficient storage technologies, have the potential to transform the energy system into a more sustainable, participatory, and decentralized model.
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/75245
UL https://uvadoc.uva.es/handle/10324/75245
LA spa
NO Escuela de Doctorado
DS UVaDOC
RD 14-abr-2025