Energy balance in a Renewable Energy Community

Diminishing primary energy resources drives the need for self-sustained households. While it is almost impossible to achieve it for individual households due to the fluctuation of both energy demand and supply of renewable energies, it will be possible to establish sustainable communities. This paper presents a study, based on software simulations, of the energy balance in a Renewable Energy Community composed of fifty houses in the German city Cottbus. Electricity is generated on-site through photovoltaic solar panels and wind turbines. Energy excess is stored in battery banks to be used when the generators cannot supply the electricity demand. Electric vehicle batteries are also considered part of the battery bank during peak demands. The community is disconnected from the utility grid and the houses are integrated by a central control station.