Delving into the modeling and operation of energy communities as epicenters for systemic transformations

López, Ana Belén Cristóbal (author), Sanz-Cuadrado, Cristina (author), Zhang, Zhe (author), Victoria, Marta (author), Fialho, Luis (author), Cavaco, Afonso (author), Bokalič, Matevž (author), Narvarte, Luis (author)

With the emergence of energy communities, this paper explores their operationalization as a tool with which to create large and stable citizen science and education hubs focused on energy, where citizens can have the chance of exploring a first-hand approach to the energy transition. We present the rationale behind an energy community, whose purpose is to generate systemic and transformative changes in local environments. The concept of an energy community is used to reflect the legally recognized union of citizens, which is much stronger than any associative mechanism yet without such a structure. While the latter’s actions and interests align with those of energy communities, its operation mode differs in terms of the priority assigned to each of them. The developed model has been submitted for feedback to three European university communities. The feedback received has highlighted the acceptability of the model and encouraged us to move forward with its implementation. Approximately 90% of the participants in the study would partake in this type of energy community in very diverse ways, which shows the capacity of the model for inclusiveness and universal access to energy experiences. The barriers and drivers expressed by the participants of the study were analyzed to identify the aspects that foster or prevent citizens’ participation. This approach will allow us to define a more responsible action plan when turning these models into reality.

• Language: English
• Keywords: energy communities, modeling, citizen science, energy transition, drivers and barriers, behavioral change
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FE - Faculty of Electrical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication date: 06.11.2023
• Year: 2023
• Number of pages: 17 str.
• Numbering: Vol. , iss.
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-154413
• UDC: 620.9
• ISSN on article: 1615-5289
• DOI: 10.1007/s10209-023-01056-0
• COBISS.SI-ID: 183704067
• Publication date in RUL: 13.02.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Universal access in the information society
• Shortened title: Univers. access inf. soc.
• Publisher: Springer
• ISSN: 1615-5289
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512667161

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: energetske skupnosti, modeliranje, državljanska znanost, zeleni prehod, vzroki in ovire, spremembe vedenja

Projects

• Funder: ARRS - Slovenian Research Agency
• Project number: P2-0415
• Name: Fotovoltaika in elektronika

• Funder: EC - European Commission
• Funding programme: H2020
• Project number: 101036418
• Name: Achieving a new European Energy Awareness.
• Acronym: AURORA