Positive Energy Districts Italian Archetypes: Case-Studies, Energy Modelling and Simulation

The topic of Positive Energy Districts, as well as their features and strategic performances, is currently a fundamental concept and is one of the cor nerstones for the energy transition in the built environment, also playing a key role in the path towards decarbonization. This paper presents the results of an Italian National PRIN project (NETPLUS—Neighborhood Energy Transition: towards Positive energy baLance and carbon neUtral diStricts) based on district archetypes’ definition and modelling. In particular, the study deals with the energy modelling and analysis of non-residential case-studies, located in Italy: for the districts of reference, specific and targeted buildings’ archetypes have been defined, modelled and evaluated with a special focus on their energy performances and distinguish ing features. The aim is to propose benchmark data and useful references, suitable for application to the Mediterranean context and analogous climatic contexts. The results involve both the modeled district validation (that displayed an average devi ation between energy-modelled yearly energy demand and building energy bills between−10% and 10%), and district retrofit assessment. The analysis highlighted that on-site energy generation for the post-retrofit configurations can cover up to 25% of districts’ annual energy consumption. Results are illustrated and analysed to provide useful tools and reference examples for addressing energy transition, representing further food for thought into driving urban transition partnership.