Advancing the energy transition: a participative system engineering process for digital solutions in renewable energy communities

The novel regulatory framework on Energy Communities (ECs) is a first step towards a decentralized energy supply. In a next step, the regulatory framework could be used to ensure certain power limits within the EC enabling higher hosting capacities in the electric grid. However, ECs require digital solutions for fitting within the local limits of the distribution grid while handling complex tasks such as controlling flexible loads or performing invoicing processes. These needs require suitable system engineering processes specifically developed for ECs. Therefore, the paper proposes a system engineering process that was established during the implementation of a real-world solution in an Austrian village. The result shows a structured process combining well-established tools, such as the Double Diamond process and the IEC 62559 use case methodology.