Assessing Energy Poverty in Renewable Energy Communities (CER): Indicators between Adaptability and Restriction in the Italian regulations

The energy transition of the European Union (EU) to renewable sources implies the formation of a new energy-scape, which will cause radical changes in the urban and rural landscape. Instead, the transformations produced in the social system are likely to be less manifest if the phenomenon of energy poverty is not properly addressed. In this context, the widespread localization of photovoltaic electricity production systems in the territory through Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) contributes to the reduction of climate-changing emissions and promotion of energy self-sufficiency, and fosters social cohesion. The RECs are also seen by the EU as a tool to tackle energy poverty, according to the “leaving no one behind” principle. In fact, some EU, national or local regulations suggest, or establish as a constraint, the inclusion of energy-poor households in the RECs. However, defining energy poverty through socio-economic indicators as well as identifying households in such conditions are still challenging. This study, therefore, proposes a critical review of the main indicators used to measure energy poverty, with the aim of testing their applicability in the context of Italian REC regulations. The results of our study show that the economic and social indicators constructed to be applied on a national scale are not as effective in measuring fuel poverty at the micro-territory or building level, impacting the effectiveness of targeted social policy actions. The main critical issue lies in the lack of detailed data (e.g. energy consumption and expenditure by household type and micro area) which are essential for selecting vulnerable households to be involved in RECs. Therefore, our study emphasizes the demand to develop new indicators or adapt current ones to meet the legislative and regulatory requirements of RECs in providing a more equitable social-energy-scape.