Energetic communities for community energy: A review of key issues and trends shaping integrated community energy systems

Abstract

Energy systems across the globe are going through a radical transformation as a result of technological and institutional changes, depletion of fossil fuel resources, and climate change. At the local level, increasing distributed energy resources requires that the centralized energy systems be re-organized. In this paper, the concept of Integrated Community Energy Systems (ICESs) is presented as a modern development to re-organize local energy systems to integrate distributed energy resources and engage local communities. Local energy systems such as ICESs not only ensure self-provision of energy but also provide essential system services to the larger energy system. In this regard, a comparison of different energy system integration option is provided. We review the current energy trends and the associated technological, socio-economic, environmental and institutional issues shaping the development of ICESs. These systems can be applied to both developed and developing countries, however, their objectives, business models as well as composition differs. ICESs can be accepted by different actors such as local governments, communities, energy suppliers and system operators as an effective means to achieve sustainability and thereby will have significant roles in future energy systems.

Facilitating Energy Transition through Energy Commons: An Application of Socio-Ecological Systems Framework for Integrated Community Energy Systems

“…There are more than 500 energy collectives in the Netherlands [3]. However, the country still lags behind most of the European countries concerning energy production from renewable resources: 5.9% in 2016 [27].…”

“…There is a need for a system design in which the technical and institutional coordination of this socio-technological system is well aligned in order to safeguard its performance [2]. These requirements provide new opportunities to create smarter, flexible, integrated, and local systems such as community energy systems (CESs), creating value both for whole energy systems as well as the end-users [3][4][5]. CESs provide new roles for local citizens and communities, putting them at the center of the energy system [3,6].…”

“…These requirements provide new opportunities to create smarter, flexible, integrated, and local systems such as community energy systems (CESs), creating value both for whole energy systems as well as the end-users [3][4][5]. CESs provide new roles for local citizens and communities, putting them at the center of the energy system [3,6]. The acceptance, support, and participation of citizens is essential to successfully manage these ongoing energy transitions [7][8][9][10].…”

“…Possible conflicts among users might occur when dealing with production and consumption. ICES literature mentions potential free-riding behavior and split incentives as expected barriers in these systems [3]. However, this wasn't found in the DE Ramplaan case, nor in other revised community energy initiatives.…”

A review of community electrical energy systems

“…It is thought that properly integrated local energy systems can provide additional benefits to the wider energy system. [4]. The reasons behind undertaking a community energy scheme may include increased energy supplier profit, reduced customer bills, more independence from the grid and reduced emissions (in terms of both carbon and air quality).…”