Abstract
The use of urban photovoltaic systems for the generation of on-site electricity in residential application was known primary for single households in the past. Today a proliferation of emerging technologies in disparate fields of research and industry promise to shift urban photovoltaics from single prosumers to integrated pro-sumer communities. These comprise, mini grids, smart meters, district scale storage and block-chain markets which are gaining significant momentum. This study shows the quantitative advantage of a shared vs. a solitary cost-optimal system in terms of installed capacity, economic benefit, self-sufficiency rate and LCOE (Levelized Cost of Electricity). The study has been conducted on 16 single family houses characterized by their geometry and their hourly electricity demands, a techno-economic optimization of capacity and positions of photovoltaic system and capacity of storage was performed with two different reward functions: to maximize the NPV (Net Present Value) and minimize LCOE while guaranteeing 27% of selfsufficiency. The same optimization procedure was performed on each home separately and on different sets of homes aggregated, the comparison of the results is shown and discussed.