Smart biogas grid: biogas utilization to operate diffused micro-generation solutions in urban areas through the bio-waste exploitation

The importance of renewable energy exploitation has been a main topic in the European Union since the 2001/77/CE Directive publication, further reaffirmed with Directive 2009/28/CE. The critical point is represented by the existing stock and urban areas, especially connected to residential districts. The challenge is to implement energy production to have autonomous districts and low-carbon producers. Micro-generation systems offer the possibility to produce locally the whole or a part of the energy needed by the districts, and among the renewable energy sources (RESs), biogas is getting its space. Bio-waste, green waste, all organic materials can be resources to produce biogas as energy recovery. From the regulatory framework to the economic program of the district and residents’ behaviour, from State or local policies for developing biogas in RESs’ scenario to the definition of the limits of biogas production and its integration in existing districts and with other systems of sustainable energy production, the PhD thesis tries to be an example of multidisciplinary approach in scientific research. Indeed, its aim compels to compare many disciplines from environmental, social and economic, in the topic of sustainability. Many are the aspects to take into consideration: citizens’ behaviour, waste practices and management, technologies applicable at building and at district scale, innovative solutions for regulatory framework and business plan, all these components contribute in the success or the failure of biogas energy system in urban areas. Through a strict analysis of the topics related to possible biogas application and diffusion in districts, the work identifies new steps to improve European common guidelines able to support biogas development, in order to have a fully available instrument for authorities, enterprises and neighbourhoods. The work wants to be a contribution for Smart Biogas Grid realization so as to create energy independent urban districts, where the householders could become virtuous producers of their energy through an efficient zero-kilometre waste chain. Biogas offers the possibility to create microgeneration urban centres in line with energy European programs, a new economic and social model for energy able to fully increase RES sensitivity in communities and to develop energy efficiency practices.