scholarly journals Distributed Energy Systems and Energy Communities Under Negotiation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Palm ◽  
Anna-Riikka Kojonsaari
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Decentralized System ◽  
Smart Energy Systems ◽  
City District ◽  
Energy Community

Abstract BackgroundNew decentralized energy-generation technologies have turned economies of scale upside down while becoming more economically viable. The increased penetration of information technologies has led to new opportunities to manage infrastructure in a less hierarchical, more flexible way. Together with citizen demands for control over energy, this has put energy communities (ECs) on the agenda, potentially advancing the transition towards more sustainable energy systems, despite hindrances encountered on the way.This paper presents a case from Sweden, using participatory observations and interviews conducted during the planning of a sustainable city district built around sharing. We examined the discussions between stakeholders concerning smart energy systems and the establishment of a microgrid.ResultsWe found that the discussions of the microgrid comprised two parallel discourses, coexisting but seldomly explicitly confronted. The distribution system operator in the area promoted its solutions, while the property developers opted for a microgrid organized more as an EC. We discuss why the EC proponents apparently lost the battle in this smart grid case.ConclusionsThis paper described the energy planning process in a case study in Sweden, where two different models for building an electric microgrid can be identified: distributed energy systems and energy community perspectives. We suggest that these perspectives have different values. We conclude that interest in microgrids could shift the transition pathway towards a more decentralized system involving a variety of owners.

scholarly journals Distributed Energy Systems and Energy Communities Under Negotiation

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna-Riikka Kojonsaari ◽  
Jenny Palm
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Economies Of Scale ◽  
Planning Process ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Decentralized System ◽  
Sustainable Energy System

AbstractNew decentralized energy-generation technologies have turned economies of scale upside down while becoming more economically viable. At the same time, the increased penetration of information technologies has led to new opportunities to manage infrastructure in a less hierarchical, more flexible way. Together with citizen demands for control over energy, these two converging trends has put energy communities (ECs) on the agenda, potentially advancing the transition towards more sustainable energy systems, despite hindrances encountered on the way. This paper presents a case study of the planning process of a sustainable city district in Sweden, using participatory observations and interviews conducted with included stakeholders. We analyse how the included stakeholders has reasoned about establishing a sustainable energy system in the area, including a microgrid. The discussions on a microgrid comprised two parallel discourses, coexisting but seldomly explicitly confronted. The distribution system operator in the area promoted a distributed energy system (DES) solution, while the property developers opted for a microgrid organized more as a citizen energy community (CEC). We discuss why the CEC proponents so far has lost the battle of creating a community owned smart grid. We conclude that the different models, a DES and a CEC, comprise different values and an increased focus on energy communities could shift the transition pathway towards a more decentralized system involving other prioritise than just economical.

scholarly journals The Benefits of Local Cross-Sector Consumer Ownership Models for the Transition to a Renewable Smart Energy System in Denmark. An Exploratory Study

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1508
Author(s):  
Leire Gorroño-Albizu
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Distribution ◽  
Distribution System ◽  
Exploratory Study ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Power Distribution System ◽  
Smart Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Companies ◽  
Sector Integration

Smart energy systems (SESs), with integrated energy sectors, provide several advantages over single-sector approaches for the development of renewable energy systems. However, cross-sector integration is at an early stage even in areas challenged by the existing high shares of variable renewable energy (VRE). The promotion of cross-sector integration requires institutional incentives and new forms of actor participation and interaction that are suitable to address the organisational challenges of implementing and operating SESs. Taking as the point of departure an empirical case and its institutional context, this article presents an exploratory study of the ability of cross-sector consumer ownership at different locations in the power distribution system to address those challenges in Denmark. The methods comprise interviews of relevant stakeholders and a literature review. The results indicate that distant and local cross-sector integration will be necessary to reduce overinvestments in the grid and that consumer co-ownership of wind turbines and power-to-heat (P2H) units in district heating (DH) systems may provide advantages over common separate ownership with regard to local acceptance and attractiveness of investments. Several possibilities are identified to improve the current institutional incentive system in Denmark. Finally, the results suggest the relevance of analysing the possibility for single-sector energy companies to transition to smart energy companies.

scholarly journals Technologies of Engagement: How Battery Storage Technologies Shape Householder Participation in Energy Transitions

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (22) ◽  
pp. 4384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanneke Kloppenburg ◽  
Robin Smale ◽  
Nick Verkade
Keyword(s):  
Energy Storage ◽  
Electricity Market ◽  
Information Technologies ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Battery Storage ◽  
Energy Community ◽  
Storage Technologies

The transition to a low-carbon energy system goes along with changing roles for citizens in energy production and consumption. In this paper we focus on how residential energy storage technologies can enable householders to contribute to the energy transition. Drawing on literature that understands energy systems as sociotechnical configurations and the theory of ‘material participation’, we examine how the introduction of home batteries affords new roles and energy practices for householders. We present qualitative findings from interviews with householders and other key stakeholders engaged in using or implementing battery storage at household and community level. Our results point to five emerging storage modes in which householders can play a role: individual energy autonomy; local energy community; smart grid integration; virtual energy community; and electricity market integration. We argue that for householders, these storage modes facilitate new energy practices such as providing grid services, trading, self-consumption, and sharing of energy. Several of the storage modes enable the formation of prosumer collectives and change relationships with other actors in the energy system. We conclude by discussing how householders also face new dependencies on information technologies and intermediary actors to organize the multi-directional energy flows which battery systems unleash. With energy storage projects currently being provider-driven, we argue that more space should be given to experimentation with (mixed modes of) energy storage that both empower householders and communities in the pursuit of their own sustainability aspirations and serve the needs of emerging renewable energy-based energy systems.

New integrated converter for hydrogen buffer interfacing in distributed energy systems

2011 ◽  
pp. 998-1003
Author(s):  
D. Vinnikov ◽  
A. Andrijanovitš ◽  
I. Roasto ◽  
T. Lehtla
Keyword(s):  
Energy Systems ◽  
Distributed Energy

Smart energy systems: A critical review on design and operation optimization

2020 ◽  
Vol 62 ◽  
pp. 102369 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yizhe Xu ◽  
Chengchu Yan ◽  
Huifang Liu ◽  
Jin Wang ◽  
Zhang Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Critical Review ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Operation Optimization ◽  
Smart Energy Systems

Impact of carbon pricing on distributed energy systems planning

2021 ◽  
Vol 301 ◽  
pp. 117324
Author(s):  
Andrea Bartolini ◽  
Stefano Mazzoni ◽  
Gabriele Comodi ◽  
Alessandro Romagnoli
Keyword(s):  
Energy Systems ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Carbon Pricing ◽  
Systems Planning

scholarly journals The Role of Regulators in Promoting the Procurement of Flexibility Services within the Electricity Distribution System: A Survey of Seven Leading Countries

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (14) ◽  
pp. 4073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim L. Anaya ◽  
Michael G. Pollitt
Keyword(s):  
Distribution System ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Distributed Energy Resources ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Collective Interest ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
System A ◽  
Use Of Resources ◽  
Generating Capacity ◽  
Tariff Structure

This paper identifies and explores regulatory issues that may have an impact on the use of flexibility services by distribution utilities to solve grid constraints. This can be done by flexible distributed energy resources which can be instructed, for instance, to reduce export generating capacity or increasing consumption. We want to identify how regulation can better support the development of the future distribution utility in its role as neutral market facilitator, enabling more competition in local flexibility markets and optimal use of resources. A set of questionnaires were designed to capture the insights around important aspects of the regulation of flexibility markets (utilities’ network incentives, network tariff structure, market design for flexibility markets, etc.). These were sent to distribution utilities, energy regulators, energy marketplaces, energy associations and relevant experts from seven jurisdictions. The responses suggest a collective interest in the procurement of flexibility services by distribution utilities from distributed energy resources. New regulations, the adaptation of current rules and recent consultations reflect this. However, the amount of progress with and preferences for key regulatory changes differ across jurisdictions.

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