scholarly journals Renewable Energy Plants and Business Models: A New Rural Development Perspective

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (17) ◽  
pp. 5438
Author(s):  
María-José Prados ◽  
Marta Pallarès-Blanch ◽  
Ramón García-Marín ◽  
Carolina del Valle
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Well Being ◽  
New Governance ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Energy Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Plants

The paper evaluates the rural development (RD) contribution of local economic activities (LEAs), whether generated or affected by the proximity of renewable energy plants (REPs). The study also informs about LEAs’ role as co-players in the fight against climate change. Semi-structured research interviews have been applied to identify LEAs’ BM (business model) in Andalusia, Murcia, and Catalonia, autonomous communities of Spain. Most LEAs present a BM based on the RE plant, and others do not, but they still contribute to RD, rural communities’ well-being and global sustainability. Results show, first, that certain LEAs, due to their inter-connection with large REPs, can innovate and create a significant number of stable jobs. Second, land leasing to REPs allows for temporary farms’ diversification, which is conditioned to its bargaining power. Third, advice on integration RE projects in RD strategies should be provided. Conclusions suggest the need for new governance to favor energy transition coherent with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

scholarly journals SOLAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES, ENERGY-POVERTY NEXUS AND PUTTING THE LAST FIRST

2020 ◽  
pp. 47-54
Author(s):  
Dr. Boidurjo Mukhopadhyay
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Rural Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Energy Poverty ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Wide Range

This paper reviews how renewable energy applications in rural areas could reduce poverty, create income generating enterprises, and improve overall well-being of communities. In addition to highlighting a wide range of cases from developing countries, the research also points out to multifarious applications of solar energy technologies for rural development. The conventional myths that the poor cannot afford nor manage smart technologies are not true, as evidenced in the cases presented in this paper. Another objective of this paper is to highlight and emphasise the role of institutions, both formal and informal, with their nested partnerships in supporting, promoting and enhancing the use renewable energy technology-based solutions in rural communities of developing and emerging (BRICs) economies. KEY WORDS: solar energy, climate change, renewable energy, rural development, energy-poverty, sustainability, institutions, livelihoods, capacity building

scholarly journals Regional Electricity Models for Community Energy in Germany: The Role of Governance Structures

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 2241
Author(s):  
Moritz Ehrtmann ◽  
Lars Holstenkamp ◽  
Timon Becker
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Energy Transition ◽  
Governance Structures ◽  
Business Networks ◽  
Sustainable Innovation ◽  
Value Propositions ◽  
Energy Companies ◽  
Desk Research

Community energy actors play an important role in the energy transition, fostering the diffusion of sustainable innovation in the renewable energy market. Because market conditions for business models in the renewable energy sector are changing and feed-in-tariff (FiT) schemes expiring, community energy companies are in the process of innovating their business models. In recent years, several community energy companies in Germany have entered the electricity retail market selling locally generated electricity from their renewable energy installations to customers in their region. We explore the evolving regional electricity business models for community energy companies in Germany, related governance structures, and the role they play for a sustainable energy transition. In order to implement these complex business models, community energy companies cooperate with professional marketing partners (intermediaries), which are capable of taking over the tasks and obligations of electricity suppliers. Through a series of expert interviews and desk research, we identify three distinctive regional electricity business models and examine opportunities and challenges to their implementation. Results show that there are different forms of cooperation, leading to specific governance structures and creating a set of new value propositions. Through these forms of cooperation, business networks emerge, which can function as incubators for sustainable innovation and learning for the post-FiT era.

Annual Yield Analysis of Solar Tower Power Plants With GREENIUS

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jürgen Dersch ◽  
Peter Schwarzbözl ◽  
Timo Richert
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Software Tool ◽  
Parabolic Trough ◽  
Concentrating Solar Power ◽  
Solar Field ◽  
Performance Calculation ◽  
Design Power ◽  
Energy Plants ◽  
Renewable Energy Plants

An existing software tool for annual performance calculation of concentrating solar power and other renewable energy plants has been extended to enable the simulation of solar tower power plants. The methodology used is shown and a demonstrative example of a 50 MWe tower plant in southern Spain is given. The influence of design power and latitude on solar field layout is discussed. Furthermore, a comparison of the tower plant with a 50 MWe parabolic trough and a Linear Fresnel plant at the same site is given.

scholarly journals Consumer Stock Ownership Plans (CSOPs)—The Prototype Business Model for Renewable Energy Communities

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jens Lowitzsch
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Business Model ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Best Practice ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Bank Loan ◽  
Stock Ownership ◽  
New Governance ◽  
Stock Ownership Plans

The 2018 recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) defines “renewable energy communities” (RECs), introducing a new governance model and the possibility of energy sharing for them. It has to be transposed into national law by all European Union Member States until June 2021. This article introduces consumer stock ownership plans (CSOPs) as the prototype business model for RECs. Based on the analysis of a dataset of 67 best-practice cases of consumer (co-) ownership from 18 countries it demonstrates the importance of flexibility of business models to include heterogeneous co-investors for meeting the requirements of the RED II and that of RE clusters. It is shown that CSOPs—designed to facilitate scalable investments in utilities—facilitate co-investments by municipalities, SMEs, plant engineers or energy suppliers. A low-threshold financing method, they enable individuals, in particular low-income households, to invest in renewable projects. Employing one bank loan instead of many micro loans, CSOPs reduce transaction costs and enable consumers to acquire productive capital, providing them with an additional source of income. Stressing the importance of a holistic approach including the governance and the technical side for the acceptance of RECs on the energy markets recommendations for the transposition are formulated.

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