No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

The increasing share of renewable energy sources on the supply side, as well as the so-called electrification pathways on the demand side, has led to peculiar challenges for electrical systems: Indeed, the increasing load demand has to be balanced from the supply-side viewpoint. In particular, the residential sector contributes to nearly 26% of the final energy consumption in Europe, suggesting that a further understanding of households’ consumptions and load profiles is needed to support an energy transition. In this context, this paper contributes to the existing discussion by proposing a sociodemographic analysis of Italian households’ load profiles using a smart metering experimental study, while also considering the households in energy poverty conditions. For the sake of generality, results are presented based on a previously proposed household segmentation of the Italian residential sector. The outcomes point out three prominent peaks on load profiles for all the identified clusters, with a notable distinction in intensity. Where children are present, a higher load profile is noted, reaching a maximum value of 600 W of absorbed power between 19:30 and 22:30. Conversely, households in an energy poverty condition show a relatively regular load profile, ranging from a minimum of 110 W of absorbed power in baseload conditions at night time to a maximum of 280 W in the evening hours. The findings in this paper are in agreement with existing research in the field, and accordingly the study proposes a better focus on domestic appliances and sociodemographic parameters.

Market-based instruments such as white certificates offer the potential to increase efficiency gains, reduce primary energy consumption and make energy systems more resilient. The purpose of this paper is to provide insights into the white certificate scheme through a case study analysis. In light of increasing decarbonization and energy efficiency targets, it is important to rethink the role that policy instruments play in the energy transition, including the energy efficiency obligation schemes within which white certificate schemes fall. We focus on Italy’s white certificate scheme because it is among the longest-lived and has achieved notable results. The scheme is characterized by annually increasing energy savings targets, flexibility, the opportunity to include many interventions, and the role of energy services companies. We provide evidence based on an empirical survey and fill the research gap left by the latest updates to the scheme along with an appraisal of those updates, which covers prominent scheme innovations such as its stability mechanism. Our research can serve as a baseline for policymakers in designing white certificate schemes in countries with little related previous experience and provide useful information from countries where similar schemes have been implemented to fine-tune similar market-based mechanisms to improve energy efficiency.

The energy transition for the industrial sector is not limited to a reduction in energy consumption: the real issue is to combine sustainability with growth, by mixing the two ingredients (the rational energy use and the industrial growth) which are not always compatible. The National Energy and Climate Plan (NECP) and the New Green Deal policies in Italy have the goal to promote an economic development as well as the environment sustainability and social inclusion. RSE 1 has investigated the role of the national incentive plan 'Impresa 4.0' in Italy (currently 'Transizione 4.0', equivalent to 'Industry 4.0') as a measure to promote the energy transition, analysing whether and how is it possible to combine economic development with energy efficiency. Originally, it was developed to increase the competitiveness of industrial sector, but, progressively, it was also used to promote energy efficiency and sustainability. A survey was carried out by RSE on about 300 companies that implemented innovation and digitalisation interventions, monitoring the effects and impacts that the '4.0 choice' has determined on energy consumption, on their environmental externalities and, in general, on other costs. Moreover, some case studies were collected, together with a database of 'Impresa 4.0' application, which supported technical and economic evaluations. The impact of these measures on energy performance of the companies was estimated from the analysis of actual projects and from interviews and discussions with the operators. In this paper, the results of the survey are presented and the outcomes are analysed in comparison with the Italian manufacturing sector performance, in order to establish the potential of 'Impresa 4.0' policies in supporting the decarbonisation process and reaching 2030 environmental targets.

No abstract