Renewables Energy Communities to Restore the City/Country Relationship: The Case of San Severo in the Apulia Region (Italy)
Author(s)
Date Issued
2024
Type
bookPart
Volume
14817
Start Page
32
End Page
49
Abstract
The interrelation between the processes of urbanization and global
issues including climate change, energy shortage and food crisis have an influence
on the interaction between the city and rural regions. Given the complexity of
such processes, which are primarily the result of human activity, it is evident
that innovative policy guidelines, as well as instruments, are needed to effectively
address these issues within a multitude of territorial contexts.
To revitalize the “peri-urban agricultural” territory as a heterogeneous and
dynamic space to be shared between citizens and farmers, with the aim of producing
not only food but also energy, it is necessary to investigate potential urban-rural
synergies for the adoption of new models according to a holistic and sustainable
perspective. These models, also known as energy communities, share energy
generated locally from renewable sources.
This paper examines EU, national and local instruments or regulatory initiatives
in support of energy production from renewable sources, particularly renewable
energy communities (RECs), with specific reference to the European and
Italian contexts.
In this regard, an ecosystemic management model for a peri-urban area is
proposed, using the Municipality of San Severo in the Apulia Region (Italy) as
the study area. This model connects the spaces surrounding the cities to the rural
territory by facilitating the diffusion of food models aimed at bringing local consumption
and agriculture closer together (urban gardens). It also makes use of
eco-sustainable energy systems, such as agro-photovoltaic, aiming at a proximity
integration between these two dimensions for a new “city-country pact.”