Comparative Study Based on Techno-economic Feasibility of Individual and Collective Decentralized PV Power Supply Devoted to the Residential Community

In the context of the sustainable energy transition, photovoltaic (PV) appears as a leading option, and microgrids have emerged as a promising option for residential communities, enabling users to meet their energy needs more efficiently while reducing their carbon footprint. This paper presents a comparative analysis of two microgrid configurations to determine which is the most suitable for a residential community. The first configuration is an ‘individual’ microgrid, where each household has its own PV system and storage. In contrast, the second configuration is a ‘collective’ microgrid, where a single PV plant coupled with a shared battery bank supplies all households. A technical and economic evaluation was conducted to identify the configuration that best meets the community's energy needs in an optimal manner. The economic assessment is based on three main criteria: Net Present Cost (NPC), Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE), and Payback Period (PBP). Conversely, the technical analysis is based on two energy performance indicators: self-consumption rate and selfsufficiency degree. The results indicate that the collective microgrid configuration is generally more cost-effective than the individual microgrid. Specifically, this configuration achieves a particularly competitive LCOE of €0.00723/kWh and a relatively short PBP of 12.52 years. However, an individual microgrid may be the more effective option in situations where the houses are geographically distant.