The Importance of Energy Prosumers for Affordable and Clean Energy Development: A Review of the Literature from the Viewpoints of Management and Policy

Abstract

The release of greenhouse gases has led to increases in global temperatures and triggered an unprecedented array of environmental disasters. The aim of net-zero emissions is to increase the share of the world’s energy supplied by renewable sources as well as to influence consumer behavior to improve the balance between energy supply and demand. Appropriate energy policies can encourage consumers to take a proactive role in the transition to more sustainable forms of energy. Given the circumstances, an increasing number of demand-side users now function as prosumers who produce, store, consume, utilize, and manage energy. To understand the state of the energy prosumers’ business model in this changing sector, a review of the literature related to energy prosumers is made, with a focus on energy efficiency, net-zero emissions, Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7), energy management efficiency, and Energy prosumer systems. The purposes of this review are (1) to explore the shared models of the energy prosumers, (2) to gain insight into the energy prosumer in different areas, and (3) to identify any gaps in the energy management efficiency research. Finally, we examine the major difference between energy prosumers and their respective relationships to energy sources. The results reveal that for energy prosumer systems, there is still some room regarding how they will financially, equitably, and efficiently adapt to the impact of the new increased renewable energy prosumer business model.

The Future Design of Smart Energy Systems with Energy Flexumers: A Constructive Literature Review

“…The study also identified motives, drivers, and barriers relevant to organizations becoming energy prosumers, contributing to a deeper understanding of implementation processes and critical success factors. Hu and Chuang [245] investigated how prosumers approach energy use. Their research focused on energy efficiency, achieving net-zero emissions, pursuing sustainability goals, and effective energy management strategies for prosumers.…”

Technological Elements behind the Renewable Energy Community: Current Status, Existing Gap, Necessity, and Future Perspective—Overview

“…ECs surrogate the "prosumers" concept, which focuses on individuals who both can consume and generate energy. Figure 5 also presents an overview of the strategic position of energy prosumers and the role of consumers and energy producers as per supply and demand, based on the literature assessment [61]. Additionally, their roles as prosumers, producers and consumers are depicted in the Figure.…”