lecture 5 Flashcards
What are energy communities?
: Groups of citizens, social entrepreneurs, and public authorities investing in renewable energy.
What are the Key Characteristics of Effective Energy Community Ecosystems?
- Keystone Actors: Central figures that foster diversity and support the ecosystem.
- Local Capacity Builders: Act as catalysts and provide necessary support.
- Relations with Incumbents: Develop both competitive and symbiotic relationships with existing energy actors.
what were the main differences between french and dutch energy communities?
- Activities: Dutch energy communities are more diverse in their activities compared to French ones.
- Financial Sustainability: Dutch communities have more attractive financial models.
- Identity: Dutch communities focus on reducing fossil fuel dependency, while French communities emphasize decentralization and citizen involvement.
What are the functions of key actors in the energy community ecosystem?
- Lobbying:
France: Conducted by Energie Partagée and Enercoop.
Netherlands: Conducted by a variety of organizations under Energie Samen. - Knowledge-sharing and Networking:
France: Supported by EPA and Centrales Villageoises.
Netherlands: Supported by Hier Opgewekt and incumbent energy suppliers. - Financial Support:
France: Dominated by EPI.
Netherlands: Multiple crowdfunding platforms and financial contributions from energy suppliers. - Operational and Technical Support:
France: Provided by regional networks and Enercoop.
Netherlands: Provided by private-sector organizations and cooperative energy suppliers.
What are local capacity builders?
- Role: Centralize information, provide access to the ecosystem, and act as local trustees.
- Importance: Help energy communities overcome challenges and sustain themselves over time.
what are the conclusions and recommendations from the Vernay (2020) paper?
Conclusions and Recommendations
* Policymakers: Should support a diversity of initiatives and help local capacity builders sustain themselves.
* Ecosystem Structure: Combining competitive and symbiotic relations with incumbents can induce sectorial change.
What are the learning goals from the Vernay (2020) paper?
Learning Goals: Mobilizing Digital Technology
* Digital Technology: Enhances the agency of energy communities by improving coordination, communication, and resource management.
* Examples: Dutch energy communities use digital platforms for knowledge-sharing and crowdfunding, while French communities rely more on centralized support structures.
what are the characteristics of energy communities?
- Characterized by high degrees of community ownership, benefits, and involvement in decision-making
What kind of barriers do energy communities face according to van summeren (2021)?
- Institutional Barriers
- Technological Barriers
- Market Barriers
what are examples of institutional barriers?
o Regulatory frameworks favor large-scale, centralized energy systems.
o Energy taxes and fixed tariffs disincentivize local energy management and trading.
o Lack of supportive policies and rule exemptions for innovative energy projects.
What are examples of technological barriers for energy communities according to van summeren (2021)?
o Interoperability issues due to a lack of standardized APIs for different Distributed Energy Resources (DER).
o High costs associated with enabling connectivity between diverse DER brands and the Energy Management Systems (EMS).
Waht are examples of market barriers for energy communities according to van summeren (2021)?
o Energy markets are designed for large-scale operations, making it challenging for small-scale energy communities to participate.
o The need for aggregation to reach a scale that allows participation in energy markets.
What is the role of ICT in empowering energy communities?
Role of ICTs:
* ICTs enable energy communities to manage and control DER, facilitating local energy management and trading.
* Open-source EMS can be developed and expanded collectively, reducing dependence on proprietary systems and fostering collaboration among communities.
Institutional Work:
* ICTs can be used to demonstrate alternative energy management practices, challenging existing institutional frameworks and advocating for regulatory changes.
* Communities can use ICTs to build coalitions and strengthen their collective agency, increasing their influence on policy and market structures.
how can you organise an ecosystem for energy communities?
Collaboration and Networking:
* Building coalitions with other energy communities and stakeholders to share resources, knowledge, and technologies.
* Engaging with DSOs and other powerful actors to gain support and access to necessary data and infrastructure.
Flexible and Adaptive Systems:
* Developing flexible EMS that can adapt to changing regulatory and market conditions, ensuring long-term viability.
* Focusing on scalable solutions that can grow with the community and integrate new technologies and practices.
Institutional Support:
* Advocating for policies that support community-based energy initiatives, such as rule exemptions and supportive regulatory frameworks.
* Educating community members and stakeholders about the benefits and possibilities of energy communities and smart grid technologies.
