scholarly journals Citizen Participation in Low-Carbon Energy Systems: Energy Communities and Its Impact on the Electricity Demand on Neighborhood and National Level

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 305
Author(s):  
Sebastian Zwickl-Bernhard ◽  
Hans Auer
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Research Question ◽  
National Level ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Electricity Demand ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Residential Sector ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

In this work, the main research question is how a high penetration of energy communities (ECs) affects the national electricity demand in the residential sector. Thus, the existing building stock of three European regions/countries, namely, the Iberian Peninsula, Norway, and Austria, is analyzed and represented by four different model energy communities based on characteristic settlement patterns. A tailor-made, open-source model optimizes the utilization of the local energy technology portfolio, especially small-scale batteries and photovoltaic systems within the ECs. Finally, the results on the national level are achieved by upscaling from the neighborhood level. The findings of different 2030 scenarios (building upon narrative storylines), which consider various socio-economic and techno-economic determinants of possible future energy system development, identify a variety of modification potentials of the electricity demand as a result of EC penetration. The insights achieved in this work highlight the important contributions of ECs to low-carbon energy systems. Future work may focus on the provision of future local energy services, such as increasing cooling demand and/or high shares of electric vehicles, further enhancement of the upscaling to the national level (i.e., considering the distribution network capacities), and further diversification of EC composition beyond the residential sector.

6. Future energy systems

2019 ◽  
pp. 116-130
Author(s):  
Nick Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Smart Grid ◽  
Energy Supply ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Modern Society ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Energy ◽  
Electricity Systems ◽  
Capital Intensive

Energy for a modern society must be affordable, reliable, and sustainable. ‘Future energy systems’ considers future electricity generation and electricity networks, including the Smart Grid. Electricity systems are expensive and the choice of technologies to be used is heavily influenced by their costs. Low carbon generation, such as nuclear and renewables, is particularly capital intensive. Local energy systems and microgrids are also considered alongside future gas systems. It is now being recognized that for the development of low carbon energy systems a more integrated and regional approach to energy supply is likely to be preferable. There are no short-term easy solutions to energy supply and all choices involve compromise.

scholarly journals Photovoltaics Enabling Sustainable Energy Communities: Technological Drivers and Emerging Markets

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1862
Author(s):  
Alexandros-Georgios Chronis ◽  
Foivos Palaiogiannis ◽  
Iasonas Kouveliotis-Lysikatos ◽  
Panos Kotsampopoulos ◽  
Nikos Hatziargyriou
Keyword(s):  
State Of The Art ◽  
Research Question ◽  
Economic Benefits ◽  
Energy Market ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Local Energy ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Open Research ◽  
Energy Community

In this paper, we investigate the economic benefits of an energy community investing in small-scale photovoltaics (PVs) when local energy trading is operated amongst the community members. The motivation stems from the open research question on whether a community-operated local energy market can enhance the investment feasibility of behind-the-meter small-scale PVs installed by energy community members. Firstly, a review of the models, mechanisms and concepts required for framing the relevant concepts is conducted, while a clarification of nuances at important terms is attempted. Next, a tool for the investigation of the economic benefits of operating a local energy market in the context of an energy community is developed. We design the local energy market using state-of-the-art formulations, modified according to the requirements of the case study. The model is applied to an energy community that is currently under formation in a Greek municipality. From the various simulations that were conducted, a series of generalizable conclusions are extracted.

scholarly journals Energy justice in the transition to low carbon energy systems: Exploring key themes in interdisciplinary research

2019 ◽  
Vol 233-234 ◽  
pp. 916-921 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren McCauley ◽  
Vasna Ramasar ◽  
Raphael J. Heffron ◽  
Benjamin K. Sovacool ◽  
Desta Mebratu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interdisciplinary Research ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Energy Justice ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

scholarly journals From Energy Security to the Security of Energy Services: Shortcomings of Traditional Supply-Oriented Approaches and the Contribution of a Socio-Technical and User-Oriented Perspectives

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-108
Author(s):  
Yael Parag
Keyword(s):  
Energy Security ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Discussion Paper ◽  
Energy Services ◽  
The Public ◽  
Cultural Aspects ◽  
Low Carbon Energy

Traditional literature and policy approach to energy security focus on the security of energy supply. It is argued here that a supply-centric approach to energy security is too narrow to account for the complex nature of energy systems and tends to overlook energy users, their expectations from, interaction with and roles in future low carbon energy systems. From users’ point of view, be they households, businesses or governments, the supply of kWh or oil barrels is often meaningless. What matters is not the source of energy, but rather the services provided by it. Therefore, securing energy services seems to be the public and the government’s concern, and the security of supply is only one mean to achieving it. Stemming from science, technology and society studies, this discussion paper suggests that applying a multi-level socio-technical and user-oriented perspectives which focus on the energy services and considers also psychological, social and cultural aspects of energy consumption, could reveal new and overlooked actors, roles, means and strategies that may provide and contribute to energy services security.Keywords: energy security, energy services, socio-technical systems

scholarly journals Notes on the Economics of Residential Hybrid Energy System

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (14) ◽  
pp. 2639
Author(s):  
Mahelet G. Fikru ◽  
Gregory Gelles ◽  
Ana-Maria Ichim ◽  
Joseph D. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Energy System ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Hybrid Energy System ◽  
Hybrid Energy ◽  
Residential Sector ◽  
Hybrid Renewable Energy

Despite advances in small-scale hybrid renewable energy technologies, there are limited economic frameworks that model the different decisions made by a residential hybrid system owner. We present a comprehensive review of studies that examine the techno-economic feasibility of small-scale hybrid energy systems, and we find that the most common approach is to compare the annualized life-time costs to the expected energy output and choose the system with the lowest cost per output. While practical, this type of benefit–cost analysis misses out on other production and consumption decisions that are simultaneously made when adopting a hybrid energy system. In this paper, we propose a broader and more robust theoretical framework—based on production and utility theory—to illustrate how the production of renewable energy from multiple sources affects energy efficiency, energy services, and energy consumption choices in the residential sector. Finally, we discuss how the model can be applied to guide a hybrid-prosumer’s decision-making in the US residential sector. Examining hybrid renewable energy systems within a solid economic framework makes the study of hybrid energy more accessible to economists, facilitating interdisciplinary collaborations.

scholarly journals On the role of electric vehicles towards low-carbon energy systems: Italy and Germany in comparison

2019 ◽  
Vol 255 ◽  
pp. 113848 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Bellocchi ◽  
Kai Klöckner ◽  
Michele Manno ◽  
Michel Noussan ◽  
Michela Vellini
Keyword(s):  
Electric Vehicles ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Low Carbon ◽  
Low Carbon Energy
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