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Volume 18
Issue 15
10.3390/en18154084
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

The Impact of Energy Communities Virtual Islanding on the Integration of Renewables in Distribution Power Systems

by
Andrea Bonfiglio
1,*,
Sergio Bruno
2,
Alice La Fata
1,
Maria Martino
1,
Renato Procopio
1 and
Angelo Velini
2
1
Department of Electrical, Electronic, Telecommunications Engineering and Naval Architecture, University of Genoa, 16126 Genoa, Italy
2
Department of Electrical and Information Engineering, Polytechnic University of Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Energies 2025, 18(15), 4084; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154084 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 24 June 2025 / Revised: 23 July 2025 / Accepted: 30 July 2025 / Published: 1 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Section F1: Electrical Power System)
Versions Notes

Abstract

In power distribution networks, the growing integration of renewable energy sources (RESs) presents a challenge for the electricity system and its operators, who need to make the energy sector more flexible and resilient. In this context, this paper proposes a novel flexibilization service for the distribution system leveraging the role of renewable energy communities (RECs), an emerging entity with the potential to facilitate the sustainable energy transition through Virtual Islanding operation. The concept of Virtual Islanding is investigated in the paper and a methodology for its validation is developed. Its effectiveness is then assessed using an IEEE-standard 33-node network with significant penetration of RESs, considering the presence of multiple RECs to prove its benefits on electrical distribution networks. The results showcase the advantages of the VI paradigm both from technical and sustainability viewpoint.
Keywords: renewable energy communities; distribution system operation; Virtual Islanding; grid services; energy transition renewable energy communities; distribution system operation; Virtual Islanding; grid services; energy transition

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MDPI and ACS Style

Bonfiglio, A.; Bruno, S.; La Fata, A.; Martino, M.; Procopio, R.; Velini, A. The Impact of Energy Communities Virtual Islanding on the Integration of Renewables in Distribution Power Systems. Energies 2025, 18, 4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154084

AMA Style

Bonfiglio A, Bruno S, La Fata A, Martino M, Procopio R, Velini A. The Impact of Energy Communities Virtual Islanding on the Integration of Renewables in Distribution Power Systems. Energies. 2025; 18(15):4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154084

Chicago/Turabian Style

Bonfiglio, Andrea, Sergio Bruno, Alice La Fata, Maria Martino, Renato Procopio, and Angelo Velini. 2025. "The Impact of Energy Communities Virtual Islanding on the Integration of Renewables in Distribution Power Systems" Energies 18, no. 15: 4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154084

APA Style

Bonfiglio, A., Bruno, S., La Fata, A., Martino, M., Procopio, R., & Velini, A. (2025). The Impact of Energy Communities Virtual Islanding on the Integration of Renewables in Distribution Power Systems. Energies, 18(15), 4084. https://doi.org/10.3390/en18154084

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