The climate crisis, a defining challenge of this century, has made it imperative to rethink urban and territorial energy models. Increasing pressure for decarbonisation, alongside global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has driven the development of innovative solutions for sustainable energy management. Among these, energy communities—particularly Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)—stand out as an integrated response aimed not only at energy efficiency but also at enhancing the resilience of cities and territories. PED is a portion of urban area with defined boundaries that can produce energy from renewable energy sources in excess of its own consumption. This study is framed within the broader effort to combat the climate crisis through spatial, urban, and energy planning. The primary aim is to support the transition to carbon neutrality by advancing the development and dissemination of the PED concept across various settlement contexts, from metropolitan to rural areas. Additionally, the study introduces a new methodology, "territorial acupuncture," aimed at creating a network of PEDs on a territorial scale. A multi-scalar and multidisciplinary approach was adopted. The research progressed through phases that integrated qualitative and quantitative analyses, literature reviews, territorial analyses and simulations. Initially, the study focused on the theoretical exploration of PEDs and their defining technologies to build a comprehensive understanding of the concept. Subsequently, the PED concept was applied to the Sicilian case study, starting with territorial analyses, followed by energy, economic, and environmental assessments of two districts—one in metropolitan and one in an inland area. The study ultimately proposed "territorial acupuncture" as a structured methodology to establish a network of PEDs on a territorial scale. Theoretical studies expanded the catalogue of known PEDs, proposed a general technological model as well as climate-specific variations, and explored the integration of hydrogen technologies. Spatial analyses helped identify areas where PED implementation would be most advantageous socio-economically and environmentally, guiding the selection of the two sample districts for simulation. These simulations validated the PED operating model for the Mediterranean climate in both metropolitan and inland contexts. Furthermore, territorial acupuncture offers a rapid, micro-invasive approach to applying PEDs at a territorial scale, influencing energy, socio-economic, and environmental dynamics between inland and metropolitan areas. In conclusion, this study not only achieves its objectives by advancing the PED concept, but also opens new possibilities for creating more resilient territories through the territorial acupuncture methodology.
La crisi climatica, una delle sfide più pressanti del nostro secolo, rende indispensabile una revisione profonda dei modelli energetici urbani e territoriali. La crescente urgenza di decarbonizzazione, unita agli impegni globali per la riduzione delle emissioni di gas serra, ha stimolato lo sviluppo di soluzioni innovative per una gestione sostenibile dell'energia. Tra queste, le comunità energetiche, e in particolare i Distretti a Energia Positiva (Positive Energy Districts - PED), emergono come una risposta integrata, finalizzata non solo a migliorare l'efficienza energetica, ma anche a rafforzare la resilienza di città e territori. Un PED è una porzione di area urbana dai confini definiti, capace di produrre energia da fonti rinnovabili in quantità superiore al proprio fabbisogno. Il presente studio si colloca nel contesto di uno sforzo più ampio per combattere la crisi climatica attraverso una pianificazione territoriale, urbana ed energetica consapevole. L'obiettivo principale è sostenere la transizione verso la neutralità carbonica, promuovendo lo sviluppo e la diffusione del concetto di PED in differenti contesti insediativi, dalle aree metropolitane a quelle rurali (interne). Inoltre, lo studio introduce una nuova metodologia, denominata “agopuntura territoriale”, volta a creare una rete di PED su scala territoriale. L’approccio adottato è di natura multi-scalare e multidisciplinare, con fasi di ricerca che hanno integrato analisi qualitative e quantitative, revisioni della letteratura, indagini territoriali e simulazioni. In una prima fase, lo studio ha esplorato il concetto teorico di PED e le tecnologie che ne costituiscono il fondamento, al fine di sviluppare una comprensione completa della sua applicazione. Successivamente, tale concetto è stato applicato a un caso di studio in Sicilia, partendo da analisi territoriali e proseguendo con valutazioni energetiche, economiche e ambientali di due distretti: uno situato in un contesto metropolitano (Catania) e l'altro in un'area interna (Troina). Lo studio presenta infine la metodologia dell’ “agopuntura territoriale” per la creazione di una rete di PED a scala territoriale. Le ricerche teoriche hanno contribuito ad ampliare il catalogo dei PED esistenti, proponendo un modello tecnologico generale, con varianti specifiche adattate a diversi climi, ed esplorando l'integrazione delle tecnologie a idrogeno. Le analisi spaziali hanno permesso di identificare una mappa di aree in cui l'implementazione dei PED risulterebbe maggiormente vantaggiosa dal punto di vista socio-economico e ambientale, orientando la scelta dei due distretti campione per le simulazioni. Queste ultime hanno confermato la validità del modello operativo di PED per il clima mediterraneo, sia in contesti metropolitani sia in aree interne. Infine, lo sviluppo dell’agopuntura territoriale rappresenta l’apice della ricerca, fornendo un approccio rapido e poco invasivo per l'implementazione futura dei PED su scala territoriale, influenzando positivamente le dinamiche energetiche, socio-economiche e ambientali, sia nelle aree interne che in quelle metropolitane. In conclusione, questo studio non solo raggiunge l’obiettivo di far progredire il concetto di PED, ma apre anche nuove prospettive per la creazione di territori più resilienti, grazie all’applicazione della metodologia dell'agopuntura territoriale.
DA DISTRETTI A ENERGIA POSITIVA A AGOPUNTURA TERRITORIALE. ANALISI MULTIDISCIPLINARE IN CLIMA MEDITERRANEO TRA AREE INTERNE E METROPOLITANE: IL CASO STUDIO SICILIANO / Leone, Federica. - (2025 Jan 24).
DA DISTRETTI A ENERGIA POSITIVA A AGOPUNTURA TERRITORIALE. ANALISI MULTIDISCIPLINARE IN CLIMA MEDITERRANEO TRA AREE INTERNE E METROPOLITANE: IL CASO STUDIO SICILIANO
LEONE, FEDERICA
2025-01-24
Abstract
The climate crisis, a defining challenge of this century, has made it imperative to rethink urban and territorial energy models. Increasing pressure for decarbonisation, alongside global commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, has driven the development of innovative solutions for sustainable energy management. Among these, energy communities—particularly Positive Energy Districts (PEDs)—stand out as an integrated response aimed not only at energy efficiency but also at enhancing the resilience of cities and territories. PED is a portion of urban area with defined boundaries that can produce energy from renewable energy sources in excess of its own consumption. This study is framed within the broader effort to combat the climate crisis through spatial, urban, and energy planning. The primary aim is to support the transition to carbon neutrality by advancing the development and dissemination of the PED concept across various settlement contexts, from metropolitan to rural areas. Additionally, the study introduces a new methodology, "territorial acupuncture," aimed at creating a network of PEDs on a territorial scale. A multi-scalar and multidisciplinary approach was adopted. The research progressed through phases that integrated qualitative and quantitative analyses, literature reviews, territorial analyses and simulations. Initially, the study focused on the theoretical exploration of PEDs and their defining technologies to build a comprehensive understanding of the concept. Subsequently, the PED concept was applied to the Sicilian case study, starting with territorial analyses, followed by energy, economic, and environmental assessments of two districts—one in metropolitan and one in an inland area. The study ultimately proposed "territorial acupuncture" as a structured methodology to establish a network of PEDs on a territorial scale. Theoretical studies expanded the catalogue of known PEDs, proposed a general technological model as well as climate-specific variations, and explored the integration of hydrogen technologies. Spatial analyses helped identify areas where PED implementation would be most advantageous socio-economically and environmentally, guiding the selection of the two sample districts for simulation. These simulations validated the PED operating model for the Mediterranean climate in both metropolitan and inland contexts. Furthermore, territorial acupuncture offers a rapid, micro-invasive approach to applying PEDs at a territorial scale, influencing energy, socio-economic, and environmental dynamics between inland and metropolitan areas. In conclusion, this study not only achieves its objectives by advancing the PED concept, but also opens new possibilities for creating more resilient territories through the territorial acupuncture methodology.File | Dimensione | Formato | |
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