Local Energy Communities Research Articles

Identification of topical issues of the energy transition in publications of the scientific content aggregator Scilit. Part 2. Keyword clustering

Background. The access of Russian researchers to Scopus and Web of Science has become restricted, so the use of open reference databases becomes relevant. Objective. Identification of topical problems of energy transition in publications presented in Scilit, a content aggregator for scientific publications with free access. Materials and methods. The study utilized 10,121 bibliometric records of articles from 2019–2023. Publications were systematized using Gibbs sampling algorithm for Dirichlet mixture model. The topics of publications within the obtained clusters were analyzed using the demo version of the Carrot2 program. Publications were ranked using the sumy utility with the lex-rank algorithm. Results. The identified topical topics are devoted to systemic problems of energy complexes, including integration of different sources of energy generation, energy storage in “accumulators” or “green hydrogen” and optimization of their operation. Much attention is paid to the social aspects of the energy transition, especially relevant for rural areas and regions with a low level of economic development. Conclusions. Without financial support and appropriate infrastructure for local energy communities, the energy transition may be rejected by them. Households should be encouraged to use cleaner energy sources that are less harmful to health and the environment.

Optimal operation of multi-energy carriers considering energy hubs in unbalanced distribution networks under uncertainty

This article presents a two-stage stochastic programming model to address the dispatching scheduling problem in an energy hub, considering an unbalanced active low-voltage (LV) network. A three-phase version of the second-order cone relaxation of DistFlow AC optimal power flow (AC-OPF) is employed to incorporate unbalanced network constraints, while the objective minimizes the Local Energy Community (LEC) operational cost. The model results have been validated using OpenDSS, encompassing energy losses, voltage levels, and active/reactive power. Likewise, a comparative analysis between the three-phase model and the traditional single-phase model, using a modified version of the IEEE European LV Test Feeder as a case study, reveals interesting differences, such that the single-phase model underestimates voltage limits during photovoltaic (PV) system operation and overestimates energy purchased from the main grid, compared with the three-phase model. Similarly, the comparison results reveal that discrepancies between the single and three-phase models intensify as the power injected from PV systems rises. This notably impacts the total energy purchased from the grid, battery operation, and the satisfaction of thermal consumption through electricity. Finally, while the three-phase model offers valuable insights into security levels for voltage and grid energy purchase, its longer computational time makes it more suitable for strategic use rather than daily operational frameworks.

Energy Hub and Micro-Energy Hub Architecture in Integrated Local Energy Communities: Enabling Technologies and Energy Planning Tools

Energy Hub and Micro-Energy Hub Architecture in Integrated Local Energy Communities: Enabling Technologies and Energy Planning Tools

Optimal management of cooperative energy communities: impact of agent cooperation

In this work we analyse the profitability of the agents participating in a Local Energy Community (LEC); the agents in these communities can be either passive or active. The main difference is that active agents own generating units that they need to dispatch, whereas passive agents do not own any generating units. The LEC is operated and managed by a coordinating agent that is in charge of all energy exchanges between the agents in the LEC and the external Public Electricity Network (PEN). We propose a general optimization-based mathematical model to study the interactions among all the participants and to foresee strategies and optimal behaviour within the rules of the LEC. With this model we can compute optimal costs, profits, energy purchases and energy sales, assessing the best configuration for the LEC as a whole and for each individual participant.

Unlocking responsive flexibility within local energy communities in the presence of grid-scale batteries

The transition towards a decentralized, decarbonized, and distributed energy infrastructure necessitates techno-economic initiatives to empower local energy communities (LECs) to achieve self-reliance and evolve into self-sustained electricity networks. It is crucial to underscore the significance of network resilience, especially in the context of local power generation, battery storage, and the radial topology of low-voltage (LV) networks. While contemporary LV networks have made significant attempts to integrate distributed energy resources (DERs), the notable deficiency lies in their lack of network redundancy, posing a substantial challenge in the occurrence of high-impact, low-probability (HILP) events. Therefore, to enhance LV network resilience and leverage its capability to withstand unexpected disruptions, the network operator needs to unlock the potential contributions of end-users within the active distribution networks (ADNs). In this paper, a comprehensive model is developed based on multi-temporal optimal power flow (MTOPF) for unbalanced LV networks addressing the technical issues in islanded microgrid operational planning. The contributions of the grid-scale batteries in forming islanded microgrids and the flexibility that can be provided by the end-users in the LEC have been considered in this paper. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed model, the simulation studies have been carried out on a part of medium and low voltage networks, consisting of network reconfiguration and load transferring capability to reduce the service interruptions during HILP events. The energy-not-served (ENS) is chosen as one of the key performance indicators (KPIs) in this study. With the unlocking flexibility potentials and contribution of the DERs, including grid-scale energy storage (GES) units and Photovoltaic (PV) panels, the ENS has been reduced from 700.8 kWh to 447.5 kWh by activating the local resources, proper switching action, and contribution of the flexible loads, for one of the severe HILP events, i.e., the main grid outage. In this case, the full load curtailment index is reduced from 180 to 106 client hours.

Assessment of the Technical Impacts of Electric Vehicle Penetration in Distribution Networks: A Focus on System Management Strategies Integrating Sustainable Local Energy Communities

Aligned with the objectives of the energy transition, the increased penetration levels of electric vehicles as part of the electrification of economy, especially within the framework of local energy communities and distributed energy resources, are crucial in shaping sustainable and decentralized energy systems. This work aims to assess the impact of escalating electric vehicles’ deployment on sustainable local energy community-based low-voltage distribution networks. Through comparative analyses across various levels of electric vehicle integration, employing different charging strategies and system management approaches, the research highlights the critical role of active system management instruments such as smart grid monitoring and active network management tools, which significantly enhance the proactive management capabilities of distribution system operators. The findings demonstrate that increased electric vehicle penetration rates intensify load violations, which strategic electric vehicle charging management can significantly mitigate, underscoring the necessity of load management strategies in alleviating grid stress in the context assessed. This study highlights the enhanced outcomes derived from active system management strategies which foster collaboration among distribution system operators, demand aggregators, and local energy communities’ managers within a local flexibility market framework. The results of the analysis illustrate that this proactive and cooperative approach boosts system flexibility and effectively averts severe grid events, which otherwise would likely occur. The findings reveal the need for an evolution towards more predictive and proactive system management in electricity distribution, emphasizing the significant benefits of fostering robust partnerships among actors to ensure grid stability amid rising electric vehicle integration.

Local Energy Community to Support Hydrogen Production and Network Flexibility

This paper deals with the optimal scheduling of the resources of a renewable energy community, whose coordination is aimed at providing flexibility services to the electrical distribution network. The available resources are renewable generation units, battery energy storage systems, dispatchable loads, and power-to-hydrogen systems. The main purposes behind the proposed strategy are enhancement of self-consumption and hydrogen production from local resources and the maximization of the economic benefits derived from both the selling of hydrogen and the subsidies given to the community for the shared energy. The proposed approach is formulated as an economic problem accounting for the perspectives of both community members and the distribution system operator. In more detail, a mixed-integer constrained non-linear optimization problem is formulated. Technical constraints related to the resources and the power flows in the electrical grid are considered. Numerical applications allow for verifying the effectiveness of the procedure. The results show that it is possible to increase self-consumption and the production of green hydrogen while providing flexibility services through the exploitation of community resources in terms of active and reactive power support. More specifically, the application of the proposed strategy to different case studies showed that daily revenues of up to EUR 1000 for each MW of renewable energy generation installed can be obtained. This value includes the benefit obtained thanks to the provision of flexibility services, which contribute about 58% of the total.

Integrating Renewable Energy Produced by a Library Building on a University Campus in a Scenario of Collective Self-Consumption

Rising fossil fuel costs and environmental concerns are driving the search for new energy sources, particularly renewable energy. Among these sources, solar photovoltaic (PV) is the most promising in southern European countries, mainly through the use of decentralised PV systems designed to produce electricity close to the point of demand and primarily to meet local energy needs. In an urban scenario, a decentralised energy system usually operates in parallel with the grid, allowing excess power generated to be injected into the grid. Solar carports and rooftop systems are excellent examples of distributed photovoltaic systems, which are far more sustainable than large centralised systems because they do not compete for land use. Despite their operational advantages, these decentralised photovoltaic production plants, which are in most cases financed by specific energy efficiency programs, present challenges in a regulated market where the injection of energy into the electricity grid is restricted by law and support programs. The aim of this work is to integrate two different photovoltaic systems within an academic campus where the only PV source currently available is a solar car park, a solution designed both to provide shaded space for vehicles and to produce energy to be consumed within the facilities. Due to legal restrictions, surplus electricity cannot be sold to the national grid, and solar batteries to store the generated energy are expensive and have a short lifespan. Therefore, since the campus has two different grid connections and a 102.37 kWp PV system, the newly designed system to be installed on the library roof must be calculated to support the installed electricity system during the most critical working hours, determining the specific angle and orientation of the solar panels. On this basis, the energy management of a school campus is fundamental to creating a collective self-consumption system, the basis of a local energy community that can meet energy, environmental, and social objectives.

Possible Development of Efficient Local Energy Community on the Example of the City of Žilina in Slovakia

Reducing the energy demand in the housing sector is one of the current topics in the EU. Slovakia, as an EU member, is also trying to lower the dependence on the import of energy raw materials used for heating. While new buildings reflect the technical requirements of applicable standards, buildings built in the past usually do not meet any technical requirements. The basis of efficient operation is not only satisfactory building structures, but also technological equipment of the buildings. The heating system is often in an unsatisfactory state, and an outdated heat source disproportionately reduces the overall efficiency of energy conversion. Complex restoration is, therefore, in most cases, necessary and often financially costly. The presented article analyzes the current state of housing stock in the example of a selected city district. In the next step, the current state and energy consumption are identified. Subsequently, needed retrofit measures are identified and the possibilities of renewal are analyzed. The use of RES in buildings is proposed, while selected city districts could create an independent energy community. The main goal of this article is to show the necessary steps to achieve efficient energy use and, using the example of a Zilina City district, show the possible benefits of such community creation in Slovakia. The article also discusses the correlation between the number of sunny days and possible energy generation in winter months.

Decentralized AIoT based intelligence for sustainable energy prosumption in local energy communities: A citizen-centric prosumer approach

The role of prosumers who are consumers who produce, store, and consume energy is vital to the uptake of renewable energies in Local Energy Communities (LEC). However, the integration of prosumers in the smart grid to facilitate bidirectional flows of energy and information depends on intelligent operations of energy systems and flexible structures of the existing energy markets. But existing energy trading mechanisms are faced with issues of trust, privacy, security, and energy pricing determination. Also, there are fewer studies based on a citizen-centric prosumer approach. Thus, there is need to provide reliable solutions that addresses the aforementioned challenges faced by prosumers in LEC. Advancements in disruptive technologies, such as Distributed Ledger Technologies (DLT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT) have transformed a broad spectrum of intelligent systems in smart cities. Therefore, this study examines the integration of AI and IoT as AIoT and DLT towards a citizen-centric prosumer approach for decentralized energy markets trading. Additionally, this article develops an architectural model for energy prosumption in LEC using design science approach based on a user-centred design method that shows a possible implementation concept to support energy sharing and trading in LEC. The architectural model supports trust, data privacy, security, and energy pricing determination using AI and smart contracts to provides real-time energy trading monitoring, easy access, control, and immutable logs to unearth underlying energy demand and supply patterns thereby supporting citizen-centric prosumer approach. Finally, a use case scenario of DLT and AIoT for prosumption operations is presented.

Unlocking carbon finance: Empowering energy communities for mutual benefit

This study investigates the potential of utilizing carbon credits to finance innovative local energy communities in Europe, addressing a significant gap in academic literature. Despite the growing interest in voluntary carbon credits as a mechanism for offsetting carbon emissions, there is limited evidence connecting local energy systems to voluntary carbon markets. The study explores whether carbon credits could serve as a practical tool for funding the development of energy communities, contributing to sustainable energy transitions and climate mitigation strategies. The research employs a comprehensive methodology to assess the quality of carbon credit projects and examines ten innovative energy community projects in Europe. Key findings reveal there is potential for using carbon credits to finance energy community initiatives. However, challenges persist, particularly regarding financing barriers and the volatile nature of carbon markets. The study underscores the importance of policy support in establishing clear standards for voluntary markets and promoting the accessibility of carbon offsets. Furthermore, it suggests potential solutions such as pre-financing agreements and the utilization of carbon market derivatives to enhance project viability. Overall, the study offers insights into the intersection between voluntary carbon markets and local energy initiatives, providing a foundation for further research and policy development in the field of local sustainable development and climate change mitigation.

An IGDT-Based Energy Management System for Local Energy Communities Considering Phase-Change Thermal Energy Storage

An IGDT-Based Energy Management System for Local Energy Communities Considering Phase-Change Thermal Energy Storage

A cooperative game-theory approach for incentive systems in local energy communities

Prosumers have a central role in the context of smart grids, and in particular within local energy communities (LECs), as they are capable of being both energy producers and consumers. In a scenario where peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading is allowed, prosumers can exchange the energy they produce with other prosumers: the primary outcome of this is the improvement of energy self-consumption across the grid, which leads to decreased transmission losses, as well as lower energy costs and diminished long-term damage to the grid itself. Previous work proposed a mechanism to achieve multiple objectives for a cooperative game theory perspective for small coalitions, but its behavior for coalitions of arbitrary size remains unexplored, and it does not consider the objective of peak shaving. This paper aims to (i) design an algorithm for calculating schedules for coalitions of arbitrary size, (ii) analyze the behavior of this mechanism for large coalitions, (iii) create a new incentive mechanism by proposing new selling functions that ensure that the resulting mechanism would optimize for the objective of peak shaving when all the prosumers work together in one large coalition, and (iv) demonstrate the performance of the existing mechanism in terms of peak shaving, by comparing against the mechanism specifically optimized for this objective. Simulations conducted on data from a grid in Cardiff, UK, reveal that the existing mechanism works particularly well for the non-cooperative game, achieving results for cost reduction and self-consumption almost identical to the cooperative game, no matter the size of the coalitions. More precisely, although all mechanisms achieve optimal peak shaving for the grand coalition, the existing mechanism achieves this objective even within the framework of the selfish game, resulting in a reduction of the peak by approximately 29% compared to alternative methods. Furthermore, the mechanism is proven to optimally achieve peak shaving in both cooperative and non-cooperative cases.

Empowering energy communities: The curious case of a socially beneficial community-owned solar park

Energy communities have increasingly become functional actors in European energy markets. Recently, different designs of the renewable energy trade among the stakeholders of an energy community project have gained traction. However, the connection between those designs and the (re)distribution of the social costs and benefits from the project has remained under-represented. There is a need to investigate the connection in light of the emerging energy regulation innovations. In this context, We conducted a social cost-benefit analysis (SCBA) to evaluate the socioeconomic impact of an ongoing solar park project owned by a local energy community in the Netherlands. The findings of the SCBA reveal a negative socioeconomic impact of the project in its current form. Therefore, we suggest that it is necessary to change the business model underlying the project and propose a recommendation on the existing regulation. To trigger a positive impact, we propose that the energy community is required to shift its revenue stream from trading electricity with grid operators to trading electricity directly with participating residents.

Energy co-operatives in Spain: The role of social enterprises in the energy transition

Decentralized and small-scale forms of organization are reappearing in Spanish’s energy system. Co-operatives have a social approach based on three dimensions: the purpose of the initiative, the form of organization and ownership, and embeddedness. In this paper, we apply this analytical framework to twelve energy co-operatives in Spain. These collectively owned organizations are energy-marketing communities, and they have specific objectives: These are an ecological objective (to reduce energy consumption and generate renewable energy) and a social objective (to propose an alternative to the reality of the energy market and citizen empowerment). Energy co-operatives in Spain have been typified as social enterprises, and these social enterprises have experience in common energy service, with which they may mark their future role in local energy communities. These results show the consolidation of energy co-operatives as a sign of the maturity of Spanish society in the face of energy challenges.

Renewable Energy Proliferation and the New Local Energy Community Paradigm: Analysis of a Case Study in Italy

Renewable energy communities (RECs) have been gaining momentum around the world, as a way to promote sustainable development and combat climate change. These communities are typically composed of individuals, businesses, and organizations that come together to invest in and promote the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, and hydraulic power. This article focuses on the benefits that renewable energy communities bring to a territory through the diffusion of renewable energy systems, tackling different issues like local depopulation, increasing energy prices, and a lack of jobs, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality. The novelty of this article lies in the results from the first-of-its-kind national call within the Next Appennino program, part of the National Complementary plan, aimed at the formation and proliferation of RECs in the area severed by the 2009 and 2016 earthquakes in Italy, as a way to add social, environmental, and sustainable value to the reconstruction of this territory. The data refer to the municipality of Castelraimondo and Unione Montana dei Monti Azzurri (a consortium of mountain municipalities), both located in the Marche region. Analysis of the consumer and prosumer energy needs, as well as the quantification of the exploitable production from the new renewable generators installed, showed that a total of 6.134 GWh/year can be shared by the community.

Analysis of the Economic Soundness and Viability of Migrating from Net Billing to Net Metering Using Energy Cooperatives

In the European Union, increasing attention is already being paid not only to the development of renewable energy sources, but also to the establishment of solutions to achieve local energy self-sufficiency while increasing the role of citizens in managing the energy they generate. This approach is expected both to have a positive impact on the environment and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and to enhance energy security—both in economic and civic terms by, i.a., combating energy poverty. The development of local energy communities promoted in the EU is supported i.a. by energy cooperatives. These contribute to the efficient harnessing of renewable energy potential in rural and urban-rural areas, and have been developing in Poland for several years now. In their previous studies, the authors of this research paper attempted to verify the generation (number, type and capacity of installed sources) and consumption (energy demand) configurations in which an energy cooperative would be a viable solution for prosumers who might establish it. However, over the past few years, the conditions for prosumers and the method of their accounting with the electricity seller have changed radically in Poland (shift from net metering to net billing). This situation has opened up space for further research and encouraged the authors to revisit the problem of analyzing the viability of establishing energy cooperatives in relation to the rules of operation of individual prosumers. This research was carried out for three scenarios, and the horizon of the analyses conducted and described extends to 2045. The comparative analysis included energy consumers without their own generation sources, prosumers with a photovoltaic generation installation covered by the net billing model, as well as a scenario involving prosumers’ cooperation within an energy cooperative, which by law is settled in the net metering model. Conclusions from the research and simulations made it possible to confirm the claim that, despite changes in the rules of prosumer billing, developing energy independence in the energy community formula results in a significant reduction in the cost of purchasing electricity (even several times lower purchase costs in the timeframe analyzed) and can lead to a reduction in the payback time of investments in generation sources even by a factor of two. The results presented in this research paper open up space for further research. The outcomes allow us to assume that energy cooperatives—in the organizational and institutional model in Poland—are a good tool for reducing the phenomenon of energy poverty on a local scale.

A Review of Renewable Energy Communities: Concepts, Scope, Progress, Challenges, and Recommendations

In recent times, there has been a significant shift from centralized energy systems to decentralized ones. These systems aim to satisfy local energy needs using renewable resources within the community. This approach leads to decreased complexity and costs, improved efficiency, and enhanced local resilience and supports energy independence, thereby advancing the transition toward zero carbon emissions. Community energy plays a pivotal role globally, particularly in European countries, driven by citizen engagement in generating power from renewable sources. The European Union, known for its focus on social innovation and citizen participation, recognizes the essential role of energy communities in its latest energy strategy. The concept for creating local energy communities or community-based energy projects has gained worldwide attention, demonstrating the economic, environmental, and efficiency benefits for using renewable energy sources. However, there is a noticeable gap in research covering all the updated aspects of renewable energy communities. This article provides an in-depth review of energy communities, especially renewable energy communities, exploring their concepts, scope, benefits, and key activities. It also sheds light on their progress by presenting results and analyses. Some countries have shown significant advancement, others are in the initial stages, and a few have partially adopted REC implementation according to the Renewable Energy Directive II. Additionally, it discusses the main challenges and potential recommendations to enhance the growth of renewable energy communities. This work is a valuable resource, emphasizing the importance of citizen involvement and offering insights into various aspects of community energy for sustainable energy transition. It also provides practical insights and valuable information for policymakers, researchers, industry professionals, and community members who are keen on promoting sustainable, community-driven energy systems.

From Local Energy Communities towards National Energy System: A Grid-Aware Techno-Economic Analysis

Energy communities are key actors in the energy transition since they optimally interconnect renewable energy capacities with the consumers. Despite versatile objectives, they usually aim at improving the self-consumption of renewable electricity within low-voltage grids to maximize revenues. In addition, energy communities are an excellent opportunity to supply renewable electricity to regional and national energy systems. However, effective price signals have to be designed to coordinate the needs of the energy infrastructure with the interests of these local stakeholders. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the integration of energy communities at the national level with a bottom–up approach. District energy systems with a building scale resolution are modeled in a mixed-integer linear programming problem. The Dantzig–Wolfe decomposition is applied to reduce the computational time. The methodology lies within the framework of a renewable energy hub, characterized by a high share of photovoltaic capacities. Both investments into equipment and its operation are considered. The model is applied on a set of five typical districts and weather locations representative of the Swiss building stock. The extrapolation to the national scale reveals a heterogeneous photovoltaic potential throughout the country. Present electricity tariffs promote a maximal investment into photovoltaic panels in every region, reaching an installed capacity of 67.2 GW and generating 80 TWh per year. Placed in perspective with the optimal PV capacity forecast at 15.4 GW peak at the national level, coordinated investment between local and national actors is needed to prevent dispensable expenses. An uncoordinated design is expected to increase the total costs for residential energy systems from 12% to 83% and curtails 48% of local renewable electricity.

Citizens’ participation in local energy communities: the role of technology as a stimulus

ABSTRACT Because of their focus on the acquisition of new technologies, local energy communities are increasingly being recognised as major players in the current energy transition and revealing the valuable role of technological solutions in sustainable development. Nevertheless, the success of these communities is not limited to the acquisition of technologies. Instead, it is strongly dependent on citizen participation. Prior literature has focused much more on the institutional and policy factors than on the roles of citizens and their participation in such communities, and indirectly on sustainability. To address the lack, this study aims to explain the determinants of citizen participation in local energy communities by developing a research model grounded on the stimulus-organism-response (S-O-R) framework, and then through a mixed-methods design, study the impact of technological factors as a stimulus on more social outcomes, namely the organism and response behaviours. Our results highlight the strong impact of sustainable technologies and gamification in citizens’ attitudes. Moreover, the research model reveals a strong influence of empowerment and pro-environmental behaviour in the citizen intention to participate in local energy communities.