MARSILEA: Stimulation of Menorca’s energy transition by fostering the creation of local energy communities from the link between industrial nuclei and residential areas

GTI Awards 2021 – Renewable energy and Energy efficiency

General information:

Island (Region, Province, Country):

Menorca – Spain

Population:
up to 200.000 inhabitants

Budget / cost of the project:
€ 21,250,000

Project partners:
Consorci de residus y energia

Partner type of involvement:

Public company in charge of Waste management and some Energy issues

Other partners:

– Institute for Energy Engineering from Universidad Politécnica de Valencia (UPV): As an Academic stakeholder, the UPV is a current ally as it works closely with the Consortium on following the implementation of Menorca’s transition agenda. A crucial part of this agenda is the creation of the energy communities in Menorca, and this project is one of the main steps in that direction.

– Ecooo Revolución Solar SL: As a Civil Society stakeholder, perform as a cooperative organization. Ecooo aided the Consortium during the feasibility study for the PV plant. They will also help in engaging citizens if there is need fore more small investors from outside the island. Additionally, they will help is in the dissemination of accumulated experience.

– Menorca’s citizens: This collective is our main stakeholder. Although is not an organized body, they will be the most important investors and will become co-owners of the PV plant. Furthermore, it is in the mindset of the Consortium to integrate them in the decision-making process throughout the whole project using focus groups and co-creation methodologies such as design thinking.

– RCV Consultors: As a local Business stakeholder, this company has developed the execution project plan for the installation.

Project objectives:

1. Explore, value and model the modules necessary to integrate renewable energy sources, distributed storage systems and electric mobility infrastructure in the urban energy system.
2. Identify and analyse local energy markets formed by nodes with complementary profiles (industry, residential, tourism, public services, etc.)
3. Develop and validate ICT tools to support the local energy community model.
4. Raise public awareness about active consumer participation in the energy market.
5. Propose new business models that enhance the active participation of prosumers, increasing the penetration of renewable energy sources, the reliable and fair operation of the distribution network and open access to the electricity market.

Project description of activities and specific interventions:

The MARSILEA project conceptualizes the energy relationship between industrial centers, public infrastructures, companies and individuals with the aim of establishing various Local Energy Communities (CEL) in Menorca. First, a detailed study of the different actors and profiles of the urban ecosystem (both public and private, whether domestic, tourist, industrial or other business sectors) is carried out, categorizing consumption curves. The potential for generating electricity through photovoltaic technology for self-consumption will also be evaluated. At the same time, the generation, storage and control infrastructures will be dimensioned, being necessary to simulate generation potentials. In addition, The adaptation needs of current infrastructures will also be identified and generation facilities will be designed. The project includes legal technical advice for the creation of the CELs and the dissemination of results.

Public outreach, education and awareness efforts and results:

Environmental awareness. Citizens must spearhead a change that decentralizes energy production. Generation from renewable energy sources, aided by public decarbonization policies, should allow a reduction in greenhouse gas levels.

The project serves as a model for other areas of the national territory and other regions of the European continent (especially island regions involved in the Clean Energy for islands program or areas declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO, with which we have a framework of collaboration). Numerous national companies linked to the planned actions can find in Menorca an ideal ecosystem to test their developments, especially in the Spanish industrial sector.

Economic value added and how calculated:

The project represents a saving of €21,324,375 per year due to the reduction in dependence on energy imports from abroad of 22 GWh / year. In parallel, the project stimulates economic competitiveness for the business fabric by generating demand for materials and technicians, in turn boosting the local economy by generating activity in the different municipalities of the island. Finally, the creation of new sectors of knowledge and activity such as Aggregators and Virtual Power Plants (VPP), new agents in the energy sector, the creation and development of which is planned within the Menorca 2030 decarbonization strategy and will have a special relevance in energy communities.

Ecological and social project outcomes:

By executing the different measures, it aims to generate annual energy savings of more than 22 GWh with a reduction in associated CO2 emissions of 18,539 tons per year.

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