Abstract
The decreasing cost of energy storage and increasing demand for local flexibility are opening up new possibilities for energy storage deployment at the local level. Community energy storage (CES) is expected to contribute positively towards energy transition while accommodating the needs and expectations of citizens and local communities. Yet, the technological and societal challenges of integrating CES in the largely centralized present energy system demand for socio-technical innovation. In this article, we develop and discuss several configurations of CES. Applying system innovation and socio-technical transition frameworks and conceptualizing CES as a complex socio-technical system, different dynamics of CES in the energy systems such as coordination and interaction among actors and components of CES and the larger energy system is explored. The responsible research and innovation (RRI) framework can provide a new discourse in design and implementation of CES, facilitating the transition to a sustainable, reliable, inclusive and affordable future energy system.
Highlights
Introduction and scopeThe initial local energy systems developed by enterprises and others around 1900 evolved into the present and still dominant complex, fossil-fuel based, centralized and networked form due to various technological and societal developments, such as increasing demand, economies of scale and resource complementaries [1,2]
What do we mean with energy storage at the local level, how many community energy initiatives are involved in Community energy storage (CES), how can CES be shaped and organized, what are the contribution of CES in the energy transition, what are the conditions for the emergence of CES, and how can research and innovation (RRI) be operationalized in CES?
In the changing energy landscape, CES is emerging as a decentralized socio-technical innovation
Summary
The initial local energy systems developed by enterprises and others around 1900 evolved into the present and still dominant complex, fossil-fuel based, centralized and networked form due to various technological and societal developments, such as increasing demand, economies of scale and resource complementaries [1,2]. Technologies, business models, partnerships and customer engagement programs can emerge at the changing energy landscape, further driving the energy system transformation. Community level dynamics refers to new roles for local communities in ownership, governance as well as local energy markets in the form of peer to peer energy sharing This means that besides demands concerning energy security, affordability, safety and soundness, other requirements and values should be taken into account, in particular with respect to sustainability and environment as well as coordination of activities and community involvement. It reviews and assesses CES systems, and their different possible configurations and dynamics.
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