How end-users are playing a key role in the energy transition
The energy crisis is bringing times of upheaval for Europe’s power grid. With prices skyrocketing and novel energy sources rising, the disruption and redesign of the entire industry are inevitable. However, a vital resource and decisive success factor for the energy transition is being criminally neglected: the power of the consumer.
While at first glance most energy companies seem to be end-user focused, upon closer inspection, this usually translates to nothing more than trying not to lose the paying customer. However, smart technologies, a new awareness, and the numerous regulatory options, which are resulting in completely new business models, are leading the way toward a new role of the end user. The consumer has now the potential to massively reshape the energy sector.
An up-and-coming energy use model that is already proving this is the development of local energy communities. This model’s decentralisation of energy production and distribution enables real autonomy. The key is developing an association that can connect all members of the community to a social energy network. In this way, consumers, producers or even prosumers, know each other and can exchange ideas and knowledge. Furthermore, this model allows energy to be consumed in the same geographical area where it was produced, reducing transmission costs.
In the Italian municipality of Gallese, the people in charge are doing just that. Situated in the district of Viterbo, Bio Distretto Amerina is a flourishing, sustainable, and ecological agricultural community that has decided to expand its initiative by hosting an energy community. Responsible for the initiative is Andrea Ferrante, an agricultural economist from Viterbo and partner in the European Research Project ReDREAM. This EU-funded project empowers consumers to sustainably influence the use of energy by providing monitoring equipment for electricity consumption and developing an app which is now being by the members of the Bio Distretto Amerina energy community.