Source
doi:10.3390/en17153789 — original publication (opens in a new tab; the file is not redistributed)
Feeds: d08_biotechnology_nature_based · d01_renewable_energy_storage · i01_financial_economic_sufficiency · i09_environmental_sustainability
Summary
Bibliometric analysis and literature review of organic waste-based energy communities, drawing on Scopus (2,645 publications) and Web of Science (121,698 publications) for the “Energy Community” topic. Focuses specifically on the role of organic waste — via anaerobic digestion, gasification, and pyrolysis — as a local renewable energy feedstock. Identifies community microgrids and P2P energy sharing as the most cited research topics in the field; quantifies biogas plant capital costs and adoption barriers; and frames organic waste-to-energy communities as simultaneously an energy solution and a waste management solution.
Key claims
Organic waste as global energy opportunity
- Global organic waste production exceeds 2 billion tons per year (IEA, 2021) — a massive feedstock resource currently causing GHG emissions, soil and water pollution when mismanaged. LIT_005
- Technologies for conversion: anaerobic digestion, gasification, pyrolysis → biogas, thermal energy, or electricity; also biomethane, biohydrogen, methanol, ethanol. LIT_005
- Organic waste-based energy communities reduce GHG emissions, improve waste management, and increase local energy security while reducing dependence on external suppliers and fossil fuels. LIT_005
Biogas plant capital costs and barriers
- Medium-sized community biogas plant: USD 1–3 million initial investment (World Bank, 2018). LIT_005
- 40% of rural communities have skills shortages for technical operation and maintenance of biogas systems. LIT_005
- 30% of energy communities face increased costs associated with collection and transport of organic waste. LIT_005
P2P energy sharing as leading research priority
- Most cited paper in the energy community literature (317 citations): P2P energy sharing through two-stage aggregated battery control in a community microgrid (Long et al., 2018, Applied Energy) — confirms P2P via community microgrid as the #1 research priority in energy community science. LIT_005
- Digital twin technology and machine learning algorithms emerging as energy community optimization tools. LIT_005
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) are the central strategic technology theme in energy community research — enabling P2P sharing and time-shifting of renewable generation. LIT_005
Energy community definitions
- European Commission (2020): energy communities are “legal entities based on open and voluntary participation, effectively controlled by shareholders or members who are located in proximity to the renewable energy projects owned and developed by that community.”
- IEA (2021): “community-driven initiatives focused on the generation, distribution, storage, and supply of energy.”
Benefits and barriers
- Economic benefits: reducing dependence on non-renewables, energy cost savings. Environmental: GHG reduction, climate change mitigation. Social: community participation, decentralized sustainability. LIT_005
- Barriers: technological (upfront cost, regulatory complexity), skills (40% rural shortage), waste logistics (30% face cost increases). Regulatory frameworks are the most critical systemic barrier. LIT_005
Key thesis insights
- The energy community concept has a formal EU legal definition (EC 2020) and IEA operational definition — relevant for thesis governance framing and Neobiome legal structure.
- Organic waste-to-energy communities are framed as circular economy solutions, not just energy solutions — relevant for thesis sustainability argument.
- Research interest in energy communities surged from 2018 onward; Italy leads global academic output, driven by EU Horizon funding (317 supported publications).
Research targets
Documents to retrieve
- [RT_039] Igliński et al. (2021) — Can energy self-sufficiency be achieved? Regional case study Poland (Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodeship) (Clean Technol. Environ. Policy 23:2061-2081). → I01
Connections
Links to
SSI indicators (2): I01: Financial & Economic Self-Sufficiency · I09: Environmental Sustainability
EDT domains (2): D01: Renewable Energy & Storage Systems · D08: Biotechnology & Nature-Based Solutions
Referenced by
SSI indicators (2): I01: Financial & Economic Self-Sufficiency · I09: Environmental Sustainability
EDT domains (2): D01: Renewable Energy & Storage Systems · D08: Biotechnology & Nature-Based Solutions