Preface -- 1 Introduction: The Need for Sector Coupling and the Energy Transition Goals 1 Marialaura Di Somma, Christina Papadimitriou, Giorgio Graditi, and Koen Kok -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Opportunities for Sector Coupling to Contribute to Decarbonization -- 1.3 European Energy Legislation and Initiatives Supporting Sector Coupling -- 1.4 Main Barriers to Implementation -- 1.5 The Integrated Local Energy Community Concept to Foster Sector Coupling at the Local Level Through End-Users Engagement -- 2 Current Status of Multi-carrier Energy Systems in Europe with Main Limitations and Shortcomings to the Optimal Use of Local Energy Resources 19 Andrei Morch, Hanne Sæle, Jesús Fraile Ardanuy, Giuseppe Conti, Gabriele Comodi, and Mosè Rossi -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.2 Methodology -- 2.3 The Scoping Study: Road Maps and the Overall Pan-European Priorities -- 2.4 Review of Sector Coupling Technologies for Integrated Local Energy Communities -- 2.5 Review of Limitations and Barriers for the Optimal Use of the Local Energy Resources -- 2.6 Conclusions and Lessons Learned -- 3 The Concept of Integrated Local Energy Communities: Key Features and Enabling Technologies 55 Amedeo Buonanno, Martina Caliano, Gianfranco Chicco, Marialaura Di Somma, Giorgio Graditi, Valeria Palladino, Christina Papadimitriou, and Hanne Sæle -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.2 Key Features of ILECs -- 3.3 Enabling Technologies -- 3.4 Summary of Main Barriers to the Use of Enabling Technologies in the ILEC -- 4 Actors, Business Models, and Key Issues for the Implementation of Integrated Local Energy Communities 99 Martina Caliano, Alberto Borghetti, Amedeo Buonanno, Marialaura Di Somma, Salvatore Fabozzi, Giorgio Graditi, Carlo Alberto Nucci, Christina Papadimitriou, and Peter Richardson -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.2 Actors' Roles and Interactions Within ILECs -- 4.3 Key Issues for the Implementation of ILECs -- 4.4 Business Models for ILECs -- 4.5 Conclusion and Lessons Learned on Barriers, Benefits, and Policy Implications for ILECs Implementation -- 5 Comprehensive Analysis and Future Outlook of Planning and Operation Approaches for Multicarrier Energy Systems Under the Integrated Local Energy Community Concept 139 Christina Papadimitriou, Marialaura Di Somma, Dimitrios Tzelepis, Koen Kok, and Giorgio Graditi -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Optimal Planning of Multicarrier Energy Systems -- 5.3 Operational Planning of Multicarrier Energy Systems for Day-Ahead Optimization and Decision-Making Under Uncertainties -- 5.4 Optimal Operation of Multicarrier Energy Systems in Real Time Under Multiobjective Approaches Considering Demand-Response Programs and Market Interaction -- 5.5 Data Architectures, Control Technologies, and the Scaling of Energy Systems -- 5.6 Holistic Approach in Planning and Operating an ILEC -- 5.7 Conclusion -- 6 Analytical Framework for Coordinated Planning and Operation of Multicarrier Energy Systems 187 Marialaura Di Somma, Christina Papadimitriou, Anastasios Oulis Rousis, Angelos Patsidis, Miadreza Shafie-Khah, Vahid Shahbazbegian, and Magnus Askeland -- 6.1 Introduction -- 6.2 Modeling of Energy Technologies in MCES -- 6.3 The Optimal Design Problem for MCES -- 6.4 Optimal Day-Ahead Scheduling of MCES Under Uncertainties and by Considering DR Programs -- 6.5 Optimal Real-Time Operation of MCES -- 6.6 Analysis of Commercial Tools for the Optimal Design and Operation of MCES -- 6.7 Conclusions and Lessons Learned -- 7 Integrated Flexibility Solutions for Effective CongestionManagement in Distribution Grids 225 Bart van der Holst, Gijs Verhoeven, Milad Kazemi, Christina Papadimitriou, Marialaura Di Somma, and Koen Kok -- 7.1 Introduction -- 7.2 Congestion Management in Distribution Systems -- 7.3 Integrated Flexibility in ILECs -- 7.4 Instruments for Flexibility Activation for Congestion Management -- 7.5 Challenges and Outlook -- 8 Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading Approaches: Maximizing the Active Participation of the Prosumers in the Multi-carrier Energy Communities 265 Andrés F. Cortés-Borray, Amaia González-Garrido, Ander Z. Gómez, Joseba J. Huarte, and Nerea R. Carames -- 8.1 Introduction -- 8.2 Background and P2P Concept -- 8.3 P2P Methods and Logical Architecture -- 8.4 Literature Review -- 8.5 P2P Approach in the eNeuron Project -- 8.6 Conclusion -- 9 Integration of Multiple Energy Communities: Transaction Prices, Reactive Power Control, and Ancillary Services 299 Alberto Borghetti, Tohid Harighi, Carlo Alberto Nucci, Giorgio Graditi, Marialaura Di Somma, and Martina Caliano -- 9.1 Introduction -- 9.2 Multiple Energy Communities -- 9.3 Provision of Reactive Power Compensation Services -- 9.4 Electromobility Integration -- 9.5 Conclusion and Key Learnings -- 10 Validation of Energy Hub Solutions Through Simulation and Testing in a Lab Environment and Real World 323 Gabriele Comodi, Mosè Rossi, Alessandro Romagnoli, Alessio Tafone, and Andreas Tuerk -- 10.1 Introduction -- 10.2 Energy Hub and Micro Energy Hub Architecture -- 10.3 EH and mEH Validation Through Simulation and Testing in Lab Environment -- 10.4 EH and mEH Validation Through Simulation and Testing in RealWorld -- 10.5 EH and mEH: An Architecture for Renewable Energy Communities -- 10.6 Conclusions and Lessons Learned -- 11 Energy Communities as an Alternative Way of Organizing the Energy System in Europe: Key Societal Aspects 353 Anna J. Wieczorek, Natascha van Bommel, Amira El-Feiaz, Nikki Kluskens, Irene Niet, Luc van Summeren, Johanna Höffken, Floor Alkemade, Laura van den Berghe, Claudia Meloni, Giorgio Graditi, and Marialaura Di Somma -- 11.1 Introduction -- 11.2 A Sociotechnical Approach -- 11.3 Changing Energy System -- 11.4 Energy Communities as New Actors -- 11.5 Technology Facilitating or Hindering Energy Communities? -- 11.6 Regulations and Markets as Key Institutional Structures -- 11.7 How It Looks in Practice -- 11.8 Conclusions -- 12 Guidelines and Recommendations for Optimal Implementation of Integrated Local Energy Communities 389 Leonard E.R. Perez, Bernadette Fina, Branislav Iglár, Carolin Monsberger, Klara Maggauer, Natália de A.B. Weber, Georgios Yiasoumas, George Georghiou, José Villar, João Mello, and Rad Stanev -- 12.1 Introduction -- 12.2 Main Challenges of Integrated Local Energy Communities Implementation at the European Level -- 12.3 Guidelines and Recommendations for Optimal Implementation of ILECs -- 12.4 Conclusion -- Acknowledgment -- List of Abbreviations -- References -- 13 Conclusions and Key Findings on the Integrated Local Energy Community Concepts and Related Applications 415 Marialaura Di Somma, Christina Papadimitriou, Giorgio Graditi, and Koen Kok -- List of Abbreviations -- Index.