Economic Performance Analysis of Jointly Acting Renewable Self-Consumption: A Case Study on 109 Condominiums in an Italian Urban Area

Remote self-consumption supports the energy transition, especially through Jointly Acting Renewable Self-consumption (JARS) and Renewable Energy Communities (RECs). While RECs typically operate at the city/district level, JARS is focused on condominium buildings where apartment owners jointly invest in renewable energy systems, sharing both costs and benefits. The energy produced is consumed on-site, reducing bills and benefiting from financial incentives, when available, as under the Italian law. This research aims to assess the economic feasibility of JARS in Italy and the average financial benefit for a family living in a condominium. It also evaluates the impact of integrating JARS into larger RECs. The study uses photovoltaic electricity production simulations via OpenSolar and building energy modeling through Rose Community Designer. Results are analyzed using energy, environmental, and financial indicators such as Net Present Value (NPV) and Discounted Payback Time (DPBT) over a 20-year period. The findings show that JARS yields average incentive gains of EUR 94.34 per person per year, rising to EUR 340 when including tax bonuses, energy savings, and energy sales. The average investment payback time is 8.8 years. When integrated into RECs, JARS shows improved energy sharing (from 78% to 93%) and higher economic returns, highlighting its potential in accelerating the energy transition.