Difference between revisions of "Energy as a commons?"

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* flexibility through information of residential energy use
 
* flexibility through information of residential energy use
 
* intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution
 
* intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution
==== The societal dimension ====
+
=== The societal dimension ===
 
* consumers become co-producers
 
* consumers become co-producers
 
* "energy literacy" goes up
 
* "energy literacy" goes up
Line 30: Line 30:
 
* consumers have a greater influence on the amount of renewable energy used in Europe
 
* consumers have a greater influence on the amount of renewable energy used in Europe
  
== The Present: Obstacles to be adressed ==
+
== The Present: Obstacles to be addressed ==
 
=== The economic dimension ===
 
=== The economic dimension ===
* more efficiency through smart grids
+
* most systems still centralised
* flexibility through information of residential energy use
+
* little investments into smart grid projects
* intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution
+
* energy market rules need to be newly defined
 +
* the roles of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) need to be alternated and defined
 +
* energy markets are often unpredictable
 +
* how can affordable energy prices for consumers be ensured?
 +
* only large infrastructure programmes are funded at the moment
 
=== The societal dimension ===
 
=== The societal dimension ===
 
* Energy illiteracy: In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies, ignorant of how the energy system works
 
* Energy illiteracy: In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies, ignorant of how the energy system works
 +
* currently costs outweigh benefits
 +
* liberalisation of the energy market still ongoing
 +
* will things be regulated on a national or transnational (European) level? (see energy meters)
 +
* how are consumers motivated to become co-producers of energy?
 +
* how is knowledge about grid possibilities spread to citizens?
 +
* how can the public be involved in large-scale projects?
 
=== The technological dimension ===
 
=== The technological dimension ===
* both electricity and information are exchanged
+
* data protection: new risks for consumers as energy usage data is recorded
* ensuring interoperability in smart power grids
+
* security: grid system open to cyber attacks that could disable areas of the grid?
* reporting energy usage to increase efficiency
+
* reliability: is the grid going to be reliable at all times?
 +
* data storage: huge sums of data will be recorded
 +
* are microgrids a possibility?
 
=== The environmental dimension ===
 
=== The environmental dimension ===
* pushing decarbonisation
+
* do renewable means of energy really push smart grids?
* Consumers more likely to install renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar panels)
 
* consumers have a greater influence on the amount of renewable energy used in Europe
 
 
   
 
   
  
How can consumers be turned into prosumers?
+
 
How will power grids, distributed energy etc. be regulated?
 
Should renewable energy sources be in the focus?
 
  
 
== The Actors: Who is involved ==
 
== The Actors: Who is involved ==

Revision as of 18:58, 29 May 2017

Energy as a commons? With paradigms new markets and opportunities arising with digitalising in the energy sector and democratising means of production and distribution, how can regulation be designed in such a way that energy systems these markets are equitable and ensure participation across society?


The Past: Distributing energy the traditional way

  • The traditional power grid
  • production - transmission - distribution - consumer
  • Electricity takes over other forms of energy (electric cars etc.)
  • Russia-EU relations etc. increase uncertainty
  • Current European Energy facilities will have to be modernised soon
  • Energy trading taking over
  • More and more people are installing solar panels on their own

The Future: Smart grids - an outlook to what is possible

The economic dimension

  • more efficiency through smart grids
  • flexibility through information of residential energy use
  • intelligent and flexible grids instead of linear distribution

The societal dimension

  • consumers become co-producers
  • "energy literacy" goes up
  • decentralisation through empowerment of citizens

The technological dimension

  • both electricity and information are exchanged
  • ensuring interoperability in smart power grids
  • reporting energy usage to increase efficiency

The environmental dimension

  • pushing decarbonisation
  • Consumers more likely to install renewable sources of energy (e.g. solar panels)
  • consumers have a greater influence on the amount of renewable energy used in Europe

The Present: Obstacles to be addressed

The economic dimension

  • most systems still centralised
  • little investments into smart grid projects
  • energy market rules need to be newly defined
  • the roles of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and Transmission System Operators (TSOs) need to be alternated and defined
  • energy markets are often unpredictable
  • how can affordable energy prices for consumers be ensured?
  • only large infrastructure programmes are funded at the moment

The societal dimension

  • Energy illiteracy: In the current system, the user is a passive consumer, always dependent on utility companies, ignorant of how the energy system works
  • currently costs outweigh benefits
  • liberalisation of the energy market still ongoing
  • will things be regulated on a national or transnational (European) level? (see energy meters)
  • how are consumers motivated to become co-producers of energy?
  • how is knowledge about grid possibilities spread to citizens?
  • how can the public be involved in large-scale projects?

The technological dimension

  • data protection: new risks for consumers as energy usage data is recorded
  • security: grid system open to cyber attacks that could disable areas of the grid?
  • reliability: is the grid going to be reliable at all times?
  • data storage: huge sums of data will be recorded
  • are microgrids a possibility?

The environmental dimension

  • do renewable means of energy really push smart grids?



The Actors: Who is involved

  • EU Commission & DG on Energy
  • Member States’ energy ministries and distribution systems
  • Connecting Europe Facility
  • EU citizens as “prosumers”

Measures in Place: What has been done

What are sources of knowledge EU citizens to look into at the moment? What are microgrids and how do they work?

Clean Energy Package

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3986_en.htm http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-16-3961_en.htm https://ec.europa.eu/commission/priorities/energy-union-and-climate_en

SET-Plan

The European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan) aims to accelerate the development and deployment of low-carbon technologies. It seeks to improve new technologies and bring down costs by coordinating national research efforts and helping to finance projects.

TEN-E

The Trans-European Energy Networks (TEN-E) – are programmes set up by the EU for the implementation of the European Single Market. The Trans-European Networks aim at "linking island, landlocked and peripheral regions with the central regions of the community”.

A final outlook

Links for further Research

References