Designing energy-resilient communities: A school-centric approach to positive energy districts with integrated storage system

In response to increasing climate extremes, countries are advancing the development of Energy Communities (ECs) and Positive Energy Districts (PEDs). While homes and offices dominate PED research, schools—with their predictable schedules and underutilized off-hour capacity—hold untapped potential to enhance energy resilience through demand flexibility and solar surplus. This study proposes an optimization strategy for school-centered energy systems, integrating battery storage and surplus energy management to maximize emergency power provision and support peak-hour demand for schools and adjacent residences. Analyzing one year of energy data from Bear Creek High School (BCHS), we find summer surplus production (2941.6 kWh) offsetting winter reliance on external power due to heating and lighting demands. Residential energy peaks in autumn and winter further highlight the school's critical role in grid support. Annual simulations demonstrate a 45.6 % reduction in grid dependence, 3418 charge cycles, and $4.66 million in electricity cost savings. These results validate schools as strategic anchors for scalable PEDs, offering actionable insights for resilient urban energy planning.