Designing an Integrated and Scalable Framework to Assess the Potential of Renewable Energy Communities in Agricultural Areas, in Case of Limited Information

This paper presents an integrated and scalable methodology for assessing the feasibility of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in rural and agricultural settings, particularly in areas with limited technical and consumption data. By incorporating Geographic Information System (GIS) data, photovoltaic potential estimation, and energy consumption profiling, the study provides a decision-support framework suitable for various municipalities. A case study conducted in Caorso, a municipality in northern Italy, showcases the framework’s capability to model energy exchanges and estimate self-sufficiency levels for a predominantly rural area. The results highlight seasonal variations in energy production and consumption, identifying opportunities for improvement through energy storage and enhanced energy-sharing strategies. Overall, the proposed approach supports municipalities in the pre-feasibility assessment of RECs by enabling the evaluation of local renewable potential and minimum rooftop utilization thresholds under limited data availability.