The goal of decarbonization has driven the adoption of several intervention strategies across Europe, including the promotion of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). This study analyses an electric REC in Italy to explore the performance of different potential energy mixes combining a biogas-based cogeneration (CHP) system and photovoltaic (PV) plants. The analysis is based on a real REC composed of 53 members (mainly companies) with a Self-Sufficiency Rate (SSR) of 92% and a Self-Consumption Rate (SCR) of 60%. Adding 550 residential consumers (apartments) to the REC, the total production matches total consumption, and both SSR and SCR converge to 84%. Compared to RECs that rely solely on PV systems, this case study shows that biogas integration leads to an increase of around 40 percentage points in both SSR and SCR—equivalent to an average gain of 0.4 to 0.6 percentage points for each percentage point increase in the CHP share of the CHP-PV production mix. The analysis quantifies how SSR and SCR vary not only with different biogas/PV production ratios but, more importantly, with variations in the total annual production-to-consumption ratio of the RECs. These results can guide the design of RECs tailored to the specific characteristics of local contexts.

This paper presents an overall concept developed by ENEA (the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development) in the Italian framework of renewable energy communities (RECs). The proposed work is driven by the idea that RECs are part of a long-term vision aimed at achieving the broader concept of smart communities (SCs) through smart energy communities (SECs). SECs are, therefore, the evolution of RECs toward SCs, where ICT (information and communications technology) and digitalization play a pivotal role in fostering and boosting the energy transition and addressing societal challenge goals by 2050. In this scenario, the proposed approach is based on three dimensions, as follows: digital tools, use cases, and the observatory. Digital tools can be utilized at different stages of the creation of RECs, ranging from the design and engagement phase to evaluation, analysis, and the token economy. The second dimension refers to some selected different business cases that are used to test and demonstrate the proposed tools and provide support to specific RECs in the different phases of their creation. Lastly, the EC observatory was created by ENEA to provide necessary support to the market and stakeholders on different aspects, such as data management, economics, legal issues, communication, and regional governance.

The implementation of certain European Union (EU) directives into Italian national legislation through several legislative decrees has catalyzed the establishment of energy communities in Italy. In this context, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), in its capacity as a public research body, has developed a model of support aimed at facilitating the involvement of national stakeholders in the formation of energy communities. Smart Energy Communities (SECs), representing the evolution of both energy and smart communities, are seen as a convergence of these paradigms and as an enhancement of their proactive components. This study examines several technological solutions proposed by the ENEA model, which are instrumental in supporting the advancement of SECs. It also provides an overview of the key tools—either operational or under development—designed to fulfill the objectives of the model. The ENEA model places particular emphasis on fostering citizen engagement in energy-related matters, as well as on evaluating the progress of energy communities through both energy-specific metrics and broader social and environmental considerations. Through these innovations, the role of SECs as drivers of local energy transitions is reinforced, ensuring that the socio-economic and environmental benefits extend beyond the mere technical infrastructure of energy systems.