Extracting Users: Regimes of Engagement in Norwegian Smart Electricity Transition

Recent efforts to involve digital technologies and renewables in the electricity grid have placed users at center stage in the legitimation of energy transitions. This move has been paralleled by an emphasis on users and energy practices in social studies of energy related to science and technology studies. This article builds on an eighteen-month Living Lab exploration of energy practices with smart electricity users in Bergen, Norway. We make two interrelated arguments. First, energy production and distribution in Norway and elsewhere is shifting toward greater automation of tasks, possibly bypassing the “active user” concept. Energy sector practices are evolving from simply extracting natural resources (Extraction 1.0) toward extraction of users’ behavioral data (Extraction 2.0), and privacy thus emerges as a key component in the stabilization of energy systems. Second, we reflect on displacements of the roles and possibilities of users (or “energy citizens”) thereby enabled, especially their normative (political and regulatory) aspects. We propose that conceptualization of energy practices be supported by the concept of regimes of engagement from pragmatist sociology. Relatedly, we argue that market, civic, ecological, and industrial regimes are being actively merged through digital innovation and what we call the techno-epistemic network of smart electricity.

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Effect of the Foresight Horizon on Computation Time and Results Using a Regional Energy Systems Optimization Model

Energies ◽

10.3390/en14020495 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 495

Author(s):

Jessica Thomsen ◽

Noha Saad Hussein ◽

Arnold Dolderer ◽

Christoph Kost

Keyword(s):

Computation Time ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Energy System ◽

Variable Cost ◽

Optimization Approach ◽

Or Efficiency ◽

Electricity Grid ◽

Regional Energy ◽

Long Run ◽

Regional Energy Systems

Due to the high complexity of detailed sector-coupling models, a perfect foresight optimization approach reaches complexity levels that either requires a reduction of covered time-steps or very long run-times. To mitigate these issues, a myopic approach with limited foresight can be used. This paper examines the influence of the foresight horizon on local energy systems using the model DISTRICT. DISTRICT is characterized by its intersectoral approach to a regionally bound energy system with a connection to the superior electricity grid level. It is shown that with the advantage of a significantly reduced run-time, a limited foresight yields fairly similar results when the input parameters show a stable development. With unexpected, shock-like events, limited foresight shows more realistic results since it cannot foresee the sudden parameter changes. In general, the limited foresight approach tends to invest into generation technologies with low variable cost and avoids investing into demand reduction or efficiency with high upfront costs as it cannot compute the benefits over the time span necessary for full cost recovery. These aspects should be considered when choosing the foresight horizon.

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Is Investing in Companies Manufacturing Solar Components a Lucrative Business? A Decision Tree Based Analysis

Energies ◽

10.3390/en13020499 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 499

Author(s):

Sebastian Klaudiusz Tomczak ◽

Anna Skowrońska-Szmer ◽

Jan Jakub Szczygielski

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Energy Production ◽

Manufacturing Sector ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Product Portfolio ◽

New Approach ◽

Renewable Energy Systems ◽

Pv Systems ◽

Depth Analysis ◽

A Company

In an era of increasing energy production from renewable sources, the demand for components for renewable energy systems has dramatically increased. Consequently, managers and investors are interested in knowing whether a company associated with the semiconductor and related device manufacturing sector, especially the photovoltaic (PV) systems manufacturers, is a money-making business. We apply a new approach that extends prior research by applying decision trees (DTs) to identify ratios (i.e., indicators), which discriminate between companies within the sector that do (designated as “green”) and do not (“red”) produce elements of PV systems. Our results indicate that on the basis of selected ratios, green companies can be distinguished from the red companies without an in-depth analysis of the product portfolio. We also find that green companies, especially operating in China are characterized by lower financial performance, thus providing a negative (and unexpected) answer to the question posed in the title.

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Amortizing fund financing for applied research, development, and demonstration of advanced electric energy production and distribution systems

Journal of Fusion Energy ◽

10.1007/bf01059524 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 11 (3-4) ◽

pp. 225-233 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Richard P. Hora ◽

S. Locke Bogart

Keyword(s):

Energy Production ◽

Distribution Systems ◽

Applied Research ◽

Electric Energy ◽

Research Development ◽

Production And Distribution

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Energy production and distribution

Safety, Reliability and Risk Analysis ◽

10.1201/9781482266481-371 ◽

2008 ◽

pp. 2711-2712

Keyword(s):

Energy Production ◽

Production And Distribution

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An assessment of the tools of incentive regulation in electricity networks

ECONOMICS AND POLICY OF ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT ◽

10.3280/efe2012-001008 ◽

2012 ◽

pp. 121-152

Author(s):

Haikel Khalfallah ◽

Jean-Michel Glachant

Keyword(s):

Smart Grid ◽

Cost Efficiency ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Active Role ◽

Incentive Regulation ◽

Efficient Manner ◽

Electricity Networks ◽

Regulatory Aspects ◽

Key Features

Network regulation is playing an active role in a context of restructuring energy systems for long term transition to a smart grid. Regulation of network companies' activities should consider both cost efficiency objectives and other objectives such as quality and network innovation. It is in this context that incentive regulation tools are discussed and assessed in this paper. The aim is to show their key features and how they could be aligned with the main regulation goals. This paper concludes that they should be considered as complementary tools to address conflicting regulatory aspects in an efficient manner.

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Complex Energy Networks Optimization: Part II — Software Application to a Case Study

Volume 8: Industrial and Cogeneration; Manufacturing Materials and Metallurgy; Marine; Microturbines, Turbochargers, and Small Turbomachines ◽

10.1115/gt2020-14206 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

M. A. Ancona ◽

M. Bianchi ◽

L. Branchini ◽

A. De Pascale ◽

F. Melino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Energy Production ◽

Internal Combustion Engines ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Distribution Networks ◽

Optimal Scheduling ◽

Small Scale ◽

Complex Energy ◽

Energy Networks ◽

Energy Network

Abstract In order to increase the exploitation of the renewable energy sources, the diffusion of the distributed generation systems is grown, leading to an increase in the complexity of the electrical, thermal, cooling and fuel energy distribution networks. With the main purpose of improving the overall energy conversion efficiency and reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated to fossil fuel based production systems, the design and the management of these complex energy grids play a key role. In this context, an in-house developed software, called COMBO, presented and validated in the Part I of this study, has been applied to a case study in order to define the optimal scheduling of each generation system connected to a complex energy network. The software is based on a non-heuristic technique which considers all the possible combination of solutions, elaborating the optimal scheduling for each energy system by minimizing an objective function based on the evaluation of the total energy production cost and energy systems environmental impact. In particular, the software COMBO is applied to a case study represented by an existing small-scale complex energy network, with the main objective of optimizing the energy production mix and the complex energy networks yearly operation depending on the energy demand of the users. The electrical, thermal and cooling needs of the users are satisfied with a centralized energy production, by means of internal combustion engines, natural gas boilers, heat pumps, compression and absorption chillers. The optimal energy systems operation evaluated by the software COMBO will be compared to a Reference Case, representative of the current energy systems set-up, in order to highlight the environmental and economic benefits achievable with the proposed strategy.

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Multi-agent Supply Scheduling System Prototype for Energy Production and Distribution

Advances in Practical Applications of Scalable Multi-agent Systems. The PAAMS Collection - Lecture Notes in Computer Science ◽

10.1007/978-3-319-39324-7_33 ◽

2016 ◽

pp. 290-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Alexander Tsarev ◽

Petr Skobelev

Keyword(s):

Energy Production ◽

Scheduling System ◽

Production And Distribution ◽

Multi Agent ◽

System Prototype

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Solar Power System Planning and Design

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10010367 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 367

Author(s):

Yosoon Choi

Keyword(s):

Renewable Energy ◽

Power System ◽

Greenhouse Gas ◽

Energy Production ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Environmental Safety ◽

System Planning ◽

Renewable Energy Systems ◽

Planning And Design ◽

Production Techniques

With growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, the security of conventional energy supplies, and the environmental safety of conventional energy production techniques, renewable energy systems are becoming increasingly important and are receiving much political attention [...]

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Anaerobic Energy Production During Sprint Paddling in Junior Competitive and Recreational Surfers

International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance ◽

10.1123/ijspp.2015-0558 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 810-815 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Clare L. Minahan ◽

Danielle J. Pirera ◽

Beth Sheehan ◽

Luke MacDonald ◽

Phillip M. Bellinger

Keyword(s):

Power Output ◽

Energy Production ◽

Energy Systems ◽

Sensitive Measure ◽

Anaerobic Energy

This study compared determinants of a 30-s all-out paddling effort (30-s sprint-paddling test) between junior surfboard riders (surfers) of varying ability. Eight competitive (COMP) and 8 recreational (REC) junior male surfers performed a 30-s sprint-paddling test for the determination of peak sprint power and accumulated O2 deficit. Surfers also performed an incremental-paddling test for the determination of the O2 uptake–power output relationship that was subsequently used to calculate the accumulated O2 deficit for the 30-s sprint-paddling test. During the 30-s sprint-paddling test, peak sprint power (404 ± 98 vs 292 ± 56 W, respectively, P = .01) and the accumulated O2 deficit (1.60 ± 0.31 vs 1.14 ± 0.38 L, respectively, P = .02) were greater in COMP than in REC surfers, whereas peak O2 uptake measured during the incremental-paddling test was not different (2.7 ± 0.1 vs 2.5 ± 0.2 L/min, respectively, P = .11). The higher peak sprint power and larger accumulated O2 deficit observed in COMP than in REC surfers during a 30-s sprint paddling test suggest that surfing promotes development of the anaerobic energy systems. Furthermore, peak sprint power determined during 30 s of sprint paddling may be considered a sensitive measure of surfing ability or experience in junior male surfers.

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