Energy Communities

Energy Communities explores core potential systemic benefits and costs in engaging consumers into communities, particularly as related to the energy transition, and inclusive of implementation considerations. It evaluates the conditions under which energy communities might be regarded as customer-centered, market-driven, and welfare-enhancing. The book also reviews the issue of prevalence and sustainability of energy communities and whether these features are likely to change as the opportunities for distributed energy grow. The work opens with a definition of the concept and the developing regulatory framework for these communities. This is followed by insights into the central role of customers and citizens. This second part also includes identification of welfare considerations for citizens and for society, on a local and national level, and from social, economic and ecological perspectives. The third part considers different community designs and evolving business models, building on specific enabling technologies that are just emerging, such as smart digitalized devices, from EV batteries to smart meters, and new control and communication technologies. The book concludes with a number of case studies from real-world experiences. Defines and conceptualizes the energy community for the current generation of researchers and practitioners facing the energy transition Exploring the main benefits and challenges in forming energy communities and to what extent they are welfare-enhancing Examines under what terms, conditions, regulations or policies, energy communities can be beneficially and successfully organized and why Reviews the combination of business models and forms of organization which are conducive to the economic feasibility and the commercial success of energy communities