Digital platforms and the future of energy provisioning: Promises and perils for the next phase of the energy transition

Kloppenburg, Sanneke; Boekelo, Marten

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2018.10.016

Cited by 107 publications

(66 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…As a technology of engagement, energy storage thus allows householders to interact with and shape the energy system in new ways. Most of the storage modes allow prosumers with battery systems to generate not only use value (by self-consumption of stored energy), but also exchange value (by sharing and trading energy and providing grid services) [29]. Energy storage thereby leads to more options for prosumers about what they want to do with their self-generated energy and with whom.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technologies of Engagement: How Battery Storage Technologies Shape Householder Participation in Energy Transitions

2019

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The transition to a low-carbon energy system goes along with changing roles for citizens in energy production and consumption. In this paper we focus on how residential energy storage technologies can enable householders to contribute to the energy transition. Drawing on literature that understands energy systems as sociotechnical configurations and the theory of ‘material participation’, we examine how the introduction of home batteries affords new roles and energy practices for householders. We present qualitative findings from interviews with householders and other key stakeholders engaged in using or implementing battery storage at household and community level. Our results point to five emerging storage modes in which householders can play a role: individual energy autonomy; local energy community; smart grid integration; virtual energy community; and electricity market integration. We argue that for householders, these storage modes facilitate new energy practices such as providing grid services, trading, self-consumption, and sharing of energy. Several of the storage modes enable the formation of prosumer collectives and change relationships with other actors in the energy system. We conclude by discussing how householders also face new dependencies on information technologies and intermediary actors to organize the multi-directional energy flows which battery systems unleash. With energy storage projects currently being provider-driven, we argue that more space should be given to experimentation with (mixed modes of) energy storage that both empower householders and communities in the pursuit of their own sustainability aspirations and serve the needs of emerging renewable energy-based energy systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technologies of Engagement: How Battery Storage Technologies Shape Householder Participation in Energy Transitions

2019

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“…Scholars have also identified various risks associated with the proliferation of community energy. There are concerns, for example, that affluent communities who pursue renewable energy self-sufficiency and autonomy may not contribute equitably to the societal costs of energy grid maintenance (sometimes referred to as 'islanding', or less neutrally, as 'utility death spiral' [7]). Moreover, energy communities tend to be socio-economically homogenous, not reaching those at risk of energy poverty, in this and other ways, community energy has "the potential to reproduce, or even exacerbate, existing socio-economic and spatial inequalities" [19] (p. 149).…”

Section: Prosumers As Energy Community Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The energy platform member is both connected to a community and to energy systems, and, hence, combines aspects of the community prosumer and the grid-connected prosumer roles. Energy platforms are thought to represent a profound break from previous generations socio-technical configurations of energy systems [7]. They vary greatly in terms of their socio-technical characteristics and range from commercial networks of electricity-trading prosumers spread across the country, to local initiatives where residents collaborate with energy utilities and/or market actors to better manage the generation, distribution, and consumption of locally generated renewable energy in order to achieve costs and emissions reductions.…”

Section: Prosumers As Energy Platform Membersmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are a myriad of positive expectations about the benefits energy platforms can bring to both energy systems and householders, ranging from reducing overall costs and CO 2 emissions by better integrating and coordinating distributed energy resources [6], democratising access to renewable energy [7], to eliminating reliance on established energy actors or central intermediaries [8]. At the same time, there are concerns that 'platformisation' produces uncertainties and privatises energy provisioning, which may hinder the transition towards sustainable energy systems [7]. These concerns echo the now widespread critiques of what has been called the 'platform society' [9] and 'platform capitalism' [10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Platforms in Power: Householder Perspectives on the Social, Environmental and Economic Challenges of Energy Platforms

Smale

Kloppenburg

2020

Sustainability

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New business models and digital infrastructures, in the form of ‘energy platforms’, are emerging as part of a transition towards decarbonised, decentralised, and digitised energy systems. These energy platforms offer new ways for householders to trade or exchange energy with other households or with energy system actors, but also bring along challenges. This paper examines how householders engage with potential environmental, social, and economic opportunities and risks of energy platforms. We convened two serious-game style workshops in which Dutch frontrunner householders assumed the role of platform members and were challenged to deliberate about different scenarios and issues. The workshop results, while explorative in nature, are indicative of a willingness to pursue energy system integration rather than autarky or grid defection. The idea of energy platforms as vehicles for energy justice appealed less to the householders, although the participants were moderately interested in sharing surplus renewable energy. Finally, environmental motivations were of key importance in householders’ evaluation of different platform types. This shows that in the role of energy platform members, householders can engage with both the community and the grid in new and different ways, leading to a diversity of possible outcomes for householder engagement.

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“…As reliance on existing market structures becomes increasingly problematic, it is necessary to consider alternative business models and new ways of creating value within decarbonised systems, enabling distributed energy assets to participate in the system ( Eyre et al, 2018 ; Morris et al, 2020 ). Supported by the digitalisation of energy systems, there has been an emergence of digital energy platforms, providing a space for users to interact and access new products, services and resources, creating new value streams for distributed assets ( Kloppenburg and Boekelo, 2019 ; Morris et al, 2020 ). A challenge is the timing of regulation of digital energy platforms; regulating too early can stifle innovation and too late could result in locking in consumers to harmful business models ( Morris et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Are we seeing clearly? The need for aligned vision and supporting strategies to deliver net-zero electricity systems

Ford

Hardy

2020

Energy Policy

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This paper explores the trends, step changes and innovations that could impact the integration of renewable energy into electricity systems, explores interventions that may be required, and identifies key areas for policy makers to consider. A Delphi approach is used to collect, synthesise, and seek consensus across expert viewpoints. Over sixty experts across a range of geographies including the US, Europe, New-Zealand, Australia, Africa, India and China participated. They identified 26 trends, 20 step changes, and 26 innovations that could lead to major shifts in the design, operation, or management of electricity systems. Findings suggest that key challenges are not technological. Instead they are with delivering an aligned vision, supported by institutional structures, to incentivise, facilitate, and de-risk the delivery of a completely different type of energy system. There is a clear role for government and policy to provide a future energy vision and steer on strategic issues to deliver it; to create space for new actors and business models aligned with this vision; and to create an environment where research, development, demonstration and deployment can promote technologies, system integration and business model innovation at a rate commensurate with delivering net-zero electricity systems.

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Digital platforms and the future of energy provisioning: Promises and perils for the next phase of the energy transition

Cited by 107 publications

References 25 publications

Technologies of Engagement: How Battery Storage Technologies Shape Householder Participation in Energy Transitions

Technologies of Engagement: How Battery Storage Technologies Shape Householder Participation in Energy Transitions

Platforms in Power: Householder Perspectives on the Social, Environmental and Economic Challenges of Energy Platforms

Are we seeing clearly? The need for aligned vision and supporting strategies to deliver net-zero electricity systems

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