This report briefly outlines the activities carried out and the results achieved in the tasks completed in 2021 as part of Project 2.4 – Integration and Coordination of the Electric System with Other Systems (particularly gas and water) and analysis of requirements, availability, performance, and costs of storage systems.
The overall objective of the project was to contribute to the improvement of the sustainability of the energy system through better knowledge of the availability of renewable energy sources (RES) and the use of an integrated approach capable of leveraging synergies between different sectors. During 2021, the project’s activities continued, structured into three work packages (WPs), in continuity with previous years.
In WP1, aimed at assessing the availability of renewable energy sources (RES) considering technological and territorial constraints and the effects of climate change on resource availability, the development of the Geoportal on Energy and Territory was completed, as well as the new version of the integrated atlas. Additionally, the creation of the new anemological database and related maps, which were included in the new wind atlas, was completed. Regarding the water resource, the methodology for defining water-energy flows on a national scale was completed, and work continued on evaluating the impact of climate change on hydroelectric energy production. The effects of climate change were also estimated for wind and solar sources.
In WP2, dedicated to analyzing the limitations and effects of interactions between the electric system and other systems at various scales, the suite of models for the study and optimization of multi-energy systems at a local scale was completed, as well as the modeling chain supporting multi-energy planning at a territorial scale, which was then applied to the case study of the Sulcis Iglesiente province. At the national scale, the medium-term integrated simulator for studying the interaction between the electric and gas systems was completed, and a study was conducted on the impact of the spread of fourth-generation district heating networks on the Italian electric system. Finally, participation in international initiatives continued, producing a summary of European initiatives and activities in the field of Smart Energy Systems in light of European energy policy.
In WP3, aimed at evaluating the benefits of two sectoral applications (non-interconnected islands and the combined management of heat and electricity in a district heating plant), institutional support for the decarbonization of minor islands continued, and analyses were conducted to identify energy planning interventions that would improve their economic and environmental sustainability. Finally, regarding the district heating case study, the optimization model previously developed was applied to a real plant to maximize its participation in the electricity market and increase the overall efficiency of the plant, assessing the benefits for the system and the user.
The activities carried out and the results achieved in 2021 made it possible to meet the objectives and complete the products planned for the entire three-year course of the project.