Dynamic simulation for highly energy-independent communities design: the case study of a livestock farm in the North of Italy

In the last decades, the use of centralized energy production is being replaced by distributed energy networks and partially self-sustaining and energy-independent communities. Such approach requires careful design processes, innovative system layouts and smart control strategies, to be properly conducted by means of dynamic simulation. In this framework, this paper presents the design of a highly energy-independent community, suitably modelled and dynamically simulated in TRNSYS environment, with the aim to find out the optimal design and operating values of several key parameters obtained through a comprehensive energy, economic, and environmental analysis. In fact, by means of the developed tool, it is also possible to carry out parametric investigations of the pivotal system parameters in order to optimize different objective functions, i.e. lowest energy consumption, highest renewable energy share, best economic performance, etc.. The potentials and the capabilities of the presented methodology are proved through a real case study analysis focused on the existing agricultural community named “La Bellotta”, located in the North of Italy. This is a livestock farm with a significant renewable energy source; thus, several viable applications based on renewable energy technologies are considered to provide multifunctional benefits for households, community and environment. Such technologies are focused on biogas and biomethane production through the adoption of a biodigester. With the aim of improving the energy efficiency of this community, different proposed system layouts also based on diverse technologies, such as solar thermal collectors, photovoltaic panels, absorption chillers, biomass boilers, etc., have been modelled and investigated, and a comprehensive parametric analysis has been conducted to identify the most convenient system layout, components size, and control logic. Finally, with the aim of further enhance the concept of high energy independent community, district heating and district cooling scenarios are investigated. From the carried-out analysis, interesting energy, economic and environmental results are obtained. The paper provides an example of sustainable design to be performed by means of dynamic simulation, necessary to dynamically evaluate the energy, economic, and environmental performance and potentials of possible measures to be set-up to encourage the use of renewable energy technologies toward a sustainable livestock sector, obtained by preserving the environment and facilitating the implementation of energy efficiency technologies