scholarly journals Collective Renewable Energy Prosumers and the Promises of the Energy Union: Taking Stock

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lanka Horstink ◽  
Julia M. Wittmayer ◽  
Kiat Ng ◽  
Guilherme Pontes Luz ◽  
Esther Marín-González ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Full Range ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Use Of Technology ◽  
Energy Union ◽  
Slow Progress ◽  
Eu Directives

A key strategy in the European Union’s ambition to establish an ‘Energy Union’ that is not just clean, but also fair, consists of empowering citizens to actively interact with the energy market as self-consumers or prosumers. Although renewable energy sources (RES) prosumerism has been growing for at least a decade, two new EU directives are intended to legitimise and facilitate its expansion. However, little is known about the full range of prosumers against which to measure policy effectiveness. We carried out a documentary study and an online survey in nine EU countries to shed light on the demographics, use of technology, organisation, financing, and motivation as well as perceived hindering and facilitating factors for collective prosumers. We identified several internal and external obstacles to the successful mainstreaming of RES prosumerism, among them a mismatch of policies with the needs of different RES prosumer types, potential organisational weaknesses as well as slow progress in essential reforms such as decentralising energy infrastructures. Our baseline results offer recommendations for the transposition of EU directives into national legislations and suggest avenues for future research in the fields of social, governance, policy, technology, and business models.

scholarly journals Ancillary Services Offered by Distributed Renewable Energy Sources at the Distribution Grid Level: An Attempt at Proper Definition and Quantification

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (20) ◽  
pp. 7106
Author(s):  
Charis S. Demoulias ◽  
Kyriaki-Nefeli D. Malamaki ◽  
Spyros Gkavanoudis ◽  
Juan Manuel Mauricio ◽  
Georgios C. Kryonidis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Reactive Power ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Voltage Regulation ◽  
Ancillary Services ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Distribution Grid ◽  
Support Functions

The gradual displacement of synchronous generators driven by conventional power plants, due to the increasing penetration of distributed renewable energy sources (DRES) in distribution grids, is creating a shortage of crucial ancillary services (AS) which are vital for the frequency and voltage stability of the grid. These AS, and some new ones, could now be offered by the DRES, particularly those that are converter interfaced, in a coordinated way in order to preserve the grid stability and resilience. Although recent standards and grid codes specify that the DRES exhibit some system support functions, there are no specifications on how to measure and quantify (M & Q) them both at DRES level and in aggregated form. The M & Q of AS is crucial, since it would allow the AS to be treated as tradable AS in the current and future AS markets. This paper attempts to define a number of AS that can be offered by converter-interfaced DRES and suggests methods for their M & Q. The new AS addressed are: (1) inertial response; (2) primary frequency response; (3) active power smoothing (ramp-rate limitation); (4) exchange of reactive power for voltage regulation; (5) fault-ride-through (FRT) and contribution to fault clearing; (6) voltage harmonic mitigation. Additionally, a rough estimation of the additional investment and operational cost, as well as the financial benefits associated with each AS is provided in order to form the basis for the development of business models around each AS in the near future.

Customer acceptance of ride-hailing in Indonesia

2020 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Nabil Almunawar ◽  
Muhammad Anshari ◽  
Syamimi Ariff Lim
Keyword(s):  
Online Survey ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Adoption Studies ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Broadband Wireless ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Customer Acceptance ◽  
Use Of Technology

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate the enabling factors and the customers’ acceptance of ride-hailing in Indonesia. Design/methodology/approach The authors adopt some constructs from the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) 2 as the framework for the study to derive factors that influence the acceptance of ride-hailing in Indonesia. Samples through a convenience sampling method were collected from an online survey and were transformed into data through coding and subsequently processed using SPSS for descriptive analysis, reliability test, correlation and multiple regression analysis for hypothesis testing. Findings Ride-hailing started in 2015 in Indonesia. Five enabling factors make digital ride-hailing possible, the internet, smartphone, broadband wireless network, digital map and global positioning system. The authors found that performance expectancy, social influence and habit positively influence customers to accept ride-hailing in Indonesia. Research limitations/implications Although this research has a small sample, it is still relevant to understand people’s acceptance to the ride-hailing platform. As a ride-hailing platform is now transformed to a multisided markets platform, adoption studies or other studies on each market to cover the whole picture of the platform influence to the society, and its contribution to the national economy will be very interesting. The authors’ future research will cover various services covered by ride-hailing companies. Originality/value This study proposes and argues that four main enabling factors make digital ride-hailing a viable business. The study contributes to three significant factors that influence the acceptance of ride-hailing in Indonesia.

scholarly journals The Circular Economy at Enel X

2020 ◽  
pp. 101
Author(s):  
Nicola Tagliafierro
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Paradigm Shift ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Life Cycles ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Product Portfolio ◽  
Sustainable Business

Enel X is leading the transition toward a sustainable business model, with the circular economy as an important pillar. Using renewable energy sources and materials, extending product life cycles, creating sharing platforms, reuse and regeneration, rethinking products as services. The principles of the circular economy have become essential, considering the paradigm shift overturning the traditional linear economic model. Enel X was one of the first businesses to offer products on the market that concretely apply the five business models of the circular economy and reconsider the entire value chain from a sustainability perspective. This approach is characterized by two core principles: 1.  the first, addressed internally, focuses on the business’s product portfolio, which ranges from “measuring” circularity to identifying solutions for improvement; 2.  the second is directed toward the outside, and especially toward industrial customers and public administrations or end customers, with the goal of evaluating their level of “circularity” and helping them outline a roadmap to circularity.

scholarly journals Explaining the Technology Use Behavior of Privacy-Enhancing Technologies: The Case of Tor and JonDonym

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (2) ◽  
pp. 111-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Harborth ◽  
Sebastian Pape ◽  
Kai Rannenberg
Keyword(s):  
Technology Acceptance ◽  
Technology Use ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Personal Data ◽  
Path Model ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Privacy Enhancing Technologies ◽  
Use Behavior

AbstractToday’s environment of data-driven business models relies heavily on collecting as much personal data as possible. Besides being protected by governmental regulation, internet users can also try to protect their privacy on an individual basis. One of the most famous ways to accomplish this, is to use privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs). However, the number of users is particularly important for the anonymity set of the service. The more users use the service, the more difficult it will be to trace an individual user. There is a lot of research determining the technical properties of PETs like Tor or JonDonym, but the use behavior of the users is rarely considered, although it is a decisive factor for the acceptance of a PET. Therefore, it is an important driver for increasing the user base.We undertake a first step towards understanding the use behavior of PETs employing a mixed-method approach. We conducted an online survey with 265 users of the anonymity services Tor and JonDonym (124 users of Tor and 141 users of JonDonym). We use the technology acceptance model as a theoretical starting point and extend it with the constructs perceived anonymity and trust in the service in order to take account for the specific nature of PETs. Our model explains almost half of the variance of the behavioral intention to use the two PETs. The results indicate that both newly added variables are highly relevant factors in the path model. We augment these insights with a qualitative analysis of answers to open questions about the users’ concerns, the circumstances under which they would pay money and choose a paid premium tariff (only for JonDonym), features they would like to have and why they would or would not recommend Tor/JonDonym. Thereby, we provide additional insights about the users’ attitudes and perceptions of the services and propose new use factors not covered by our model for future research.

scholarly journals Key Factors Which Contribute to the Participation of Consumers in Demand Response Programs and Enable the Proliferation of Renewable Energy Sources

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (24) ◽  
pp. 8273
Author(s):  
Adrian Tantau ◽  
András Puskás-Tompos ◽  
Costel Stanciu ◽  
Laurentiu Fratila ◽  
Catalin Curmei
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Demand Response ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Consumer Behaviour ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Key Factors ◽  
Demand Response Programs

Consumer behaviour in the energy field is playing a more important role in the new approach dominated by the proliferation of renewable energy sources. In this new context, the grid has to balance the intermittent and uncertain renewable energy generated, and find solutions, also, on the consumer side for increasing the stability and reliability of the energy system. The main de-mand response solutions are price and incentive based, but there is a need to identify the main factors which can influence their efficiency due to the fact that there is a lack of knowledge about the preferences of consumers. The main goal of this article is to identify the main demand response solutions and the related key factors which influence the participation of consumers in demand response programs and may contribute to the spread of renewable energy sources. For this research, semi-structured interviews were organised with experts in energy from Romania, Hungary and Serbia, as well as workshops with experts in energy, and an online survey with customers for electricity. This article reduces the gap between the results of technical studies, related in demand response programs, and their practical implementations, where the consumer behaviour and its social dimensions are neglected even though, in reality, they are playing the main role. The results suggest that the consumer’s participation in demand response programs is highly influenced by different aspects related to the promotion of the renewable energy and the reduction of CO2 emissions and the global warming impact.

scholarly journals State of the Art in Research on Optimum Design, Reliability and Control of Renewable Energy Microgrids

2018 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. 23-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abubakar Abdulkarim ◽  
Nasir Faruk ◽  
A. O. Oloyode ◽  
Lukman A. Olawoyin ◽  
Segun I. Popoola ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Optimum Design ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Energy Sources ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Future Prediction ◽  
And Control ◽  
Critical Literature

This paper has presented a comprehensive review in the area of microgrid from the design to implementation. The aim is to evaluate the current status, problems and research efforts toward realising functional microgrids in the power system. The expectations about microgrid are many; therefore the study is divided into three main sections. Recent advancements in the wind energy, solar energy and their future prediction are summarised. States of arts in optimum design of renewable energy microgrid are also investigated. In addition, critical literature review in the reliability analysis of microgrids consisting of renewable energy sources is also reported. Control of microgrids consisting renewable energy sources have been presented. Some examples of existing microgrids across the globe are critically reviewed. The work therefore recommends that energy planners and all stakeholders should consider environmental and regional difference in microgrids planning. Finally, future research areas and directions in these areas are highlighted.

Evolving Business Models in the Renewable Energy

2020 ◽  
pp. 395-413
Author(s):  
Adrian Tantau ◽  
Robert Staiger
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
Ghg Emissions ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Heat Pumps ◽  
Pv System ◽  
Performance Contracts ◽  
New Energy ◽  
New Business

New business models in the solar PV business were pushed from government policies worldwide for reducing GHG emissions. Therefore, PV system installments increase exorbitant in the last years with the consequences of constant falling of prices for PV system and energy. All these quickly changed conditions, means new flexible BM. Power purchase agreements, Product Service Systems, demand resource provider, energy performance contracts are evolving rapidly in the renewable energy business. There is a variation of new PV BM for use. PV represent a new energy source for producing H2 as a storable renewable fuel in an overcapacity situation. Using H2 in combination with other systems, like hybrid systems, heat pumps gives new unique business opportunities. Decentralization will be the key to success. Other applications like mobility and long term storage are other further alternatives in connections or combination with the volatile renewable energy sources.

scholarly journals Renewable Energy in the Electricity Sector and GDP per Capita in the European Union

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (13) ◽  
pp. 2520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mihaela Simionescu ◽  
Yuriy Bilan ◽  
Emília Krajňáková ◽  
Dalia Streimikiene ◽  
Stanisław Gędek
Keyword(s):  
European Union ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Sources ◽  
European Union Member State ◽  
Electricity Sector ◽  
Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Future Research ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Real Gdp Per Capita ◽  
Per Capita

Considering that the European Directive has imposed that at least 20% of the total energy should come from renewable energy sources (RES) by 2020 already and the specific targets for each European Union Member State, this paper attempts to assess the importance of GDP per capita in realizing these targets and also the effects of the RES share in electricity. Contrary to previous research, this paper does not consider the connection between economic growth and RES, but rather the potential connection between the share of RES in electricity and the real GDP per capita. The panel data models indicated to a positive, but very low impact of GDP per capita on the share of RES in electricity in the period of 2007–2017 in the case of the EU countries, except Luxembourg that has outlier values of GDP per capita. However, causality between the two variables was not identified. Some groups of countries were described according to these variables using cluster analysis. Future research should focus on the extension of this model by including other important variables such as RES potential available in the countries with specific geographical conditions.

scholarly journals Mapping the interactions between the stakeholders of the circular economy ecosystem applied to the textile and apparel sector in Romania

2018 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1190-1209 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Staicu ◽  
Oana Pop
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Social Impact ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Theoretical Background ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Social Entrepreneurs ◽  
Sustainable Solutions ◽  
Textile And Apparel ◽  
The Way

Abstract The goal of this research is to acknowledge the elements which hinder or facilitate the transition from linear to the circular economy in the textile and apparel sector in Romania by identifying current and desired interactions among the ecosystem’s stakeholders. Two strands of literature, one on circular economy and one on the textile and apparel sector, provide the theoretical background for this research. Currently, the way we design, produce, and use clothing has drawbacks that are becoming increasingly clear. The circular economy principles have the potential to transform the way textiles are produced, consumed and disposed of. More and more social entrepreneurs are pioneering the future of the apparel industry by offering sustainable solutions to tackling systemic problems. However, their efforts have to be elevated and amplified, as such to pave the way for creating business models that allow for both economic performance and social impact. A comprehensive mapping of ongoing activities and stakeholders in the textile and apparel sector in Romania is required to understand the roadblocks to industry transformation in the context of moving toward circular economy and to implement envisioned sustainable solutions. In the paper we used a database of 27 stakeholders, developed by applying the snowball method, to investigate current and future interactions between the main actors who operate in the textile and apparel sector. To meet its research objectives, the paper employed a phenomenological research design and built upon a workshop activity. First, we designed an online survey to understand the profile and knowledge of the circular economy of the stakeholders included in our database. Second, we employed the world café method to understand in depth the level of knowledge of the actors who attended the workshop on the circular economy in the textile and apparel sector. Third, we used the structural systemic constellations method in assessing the stakeholders’ current and future desired interactions. Last, we formulated conclusions and recommendations about future research needed to deepen the understanding of the circular economy in the textile and apparel sector. Findings showed that there is a vicious circle of different actions feeding isolation and preventing collaboration among stakeholders. Also, we found that there is a lack of collaborative spaces where stakeholders can meet, connect and explore the various opportunities to collaborate, and a lack of general awareness on “circular economy and textile and apparel” and its mechanisms. The intended audiences of the research are decision-makers and practitioners in the textile and apparel sector, as well as researchers focused on the circular economy.

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