I centri minori e le Comunità Energetiche Rinnovabili: tra istanze di tutela e di innovazione energetica

Abstract

Small towns and Renewable Energy Communities
The fragility of small towns in inland areas is a widespread problem involving European and non-European countries. In view of their many potentials, the EU is promoting programmes to limit their demographic decline. Individual European countries, including Italy, are also working to promote projects for the recovery and valorisation of villages. Given the limited success of some of these experiences, it is necessary to reconsider their approach with a view to the effective development of inland territories. In this sense, ‘Renewable Energy Communities’ (RECs) can be a valid alternative, offering numerous advantages in energy self-sufficiency. However, acting on small towns’ building heritage, especially those in Italy, requires special consideration in order to reconcile instances of protection with those of energy innovation. Therefore, the paper addresses the issue of the valorisation of small towns in relation to the REC model, analysing its weaknesses and potential. The aim is to propose an in-depth study of the state of the art and the relationship between current energy technological innovations and the problems related to historic buildings.
Keywords: REC model, small towns, built heritage, protection and valorisation, recovery