Physical and virtual energy community. A comparison with a load-demand profiles generator tool (PGT)

The energy transition to renewable energy sources (RES) is assuming an increasing importance in the residential sector. Users, also encouraged by economic incentives, are preferring the installation of photovoltaic panels and storage systems so as to absorb as little as possible power from the public grid and optimize local generation. In this scenario, the energy communities, consisting in aggregations of users who benefit from the same renewable generation facility sharing profits and expanses, are emerging. The goal of this paper is to evaluate, from a regulatory, technical and economic point of view, the different forms of energy communities available today, with a focus on the benefits they may bring in practice. A case study is realized by means of a proposed innovative Profile Generator Tool (PGT), that allows the creation of load consumption profiles for any type of user, so as to accurately simulate the realization of a typical energy community. With this tool, two energy communities, having the same characteristics but completely different operating principles, will be analyzed to determine which one is capable to provide the highest benefits to the end users. A section is also reserved for the analysis of the storage systems use, investigating their impact on the economic balance of a typical residential building