IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i3p1890-d743723.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Socio-Economic Benefits in Community Energy Structures

Author

Listed:
  • Lorna Kiamba

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Lucelia Rodrigues

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Julian Marsh

    (Meadows Ozone Energy Services (MOZES), The Meadows, Nottingham NG2 2EH, UK)

  • Eldar Naghiyev

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Mark Sumner

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Lee Empringham

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Liliana De Lillo

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

  • Mark Gillott

    (Faculty of Engineering, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, UK)

Abstract

In this paper, the authors examine how a community energy group in the Meadows area of Nottingham in the UK adopted a model of local energy generation and storage as a means of combatting climate change, improving energy efficiency, enhancing energy security, and reducing fuel poverty. By prioritising local needs and managing expectations, this approach was seen to unite community members in acting on energy challenges while increasing knowledge, understanding, and awareness of energy issues in general. The results of the survey indicated that the respondents had a significantly high level of climate awareness (94%) and support for community energy (90%). Furthermore, evidence of the impacts and efficiencies of community energy and subsequent socio-economic benefits were identified, including 89% of respondents reporting a reduction in energy costs and 67% of respondents increasing their self-consumption. Importantly, the barriers experienced when trying to maximise the identified socio-economic benefits are highlighted and general recommendations given.

Suggested Citation

  • Lorna Kiamba & Lucelia Rodrigues & Julian Marsh & Eldar Naghiyev & Mark Sumner & Lee Empringham & Liliana De Lillo & Mark Gillott, 2022. "Socio-Economic Benefits in Community Energy Structures," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-21, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1890-:d:743723
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1890/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/3/1890/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Berka, Anna L. & Creamer, Emily, 2018. "Taking stock of the local impacts of community owned renewable energy: A review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 82(P3), pages 3400-3419.
    2. Nolden, C. & Barnes, J. & Nicholls, J., 2020. "Community energy business model evolution: A review of solar photovoltaic developments in England," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 122(C).
    3. Brummer, Vasco, 2018. "Community energy – benefits and barriers: A comparative literature review of Community Energy in the UK, Germany and the USA, the benefits it provides for society and the barriers it faces," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 187-196.
    4. Mirzania, Pegah & Ford, Andy & Andrews, Deborah & Ofori, George & Maidment, Graeme, 2019. "The impact of policy changes: The opportunities of Community Renewable Energy projects in the UK and the barriers they face," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 1282-1296.
    5. Koirala, Binod Prasad & Koliou, Elta & Friege, Jonas & Hakvoort, Rudi A. & Herder, Paulien M., 2016. "Energetic communities for community energy: A review of key issues and trends shaping integrated community energy systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 56(C), pages 722-744.
    6. F.G. Reis, Inês & Gonçalves, Ivo & A.R. Lopes, Marta & Henggeler Antunes, Carlos, 2021. "Business models for energy communities: A review of key issues and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    7. J. Michael Brick & Douglas Williams, 2013. "Explaining Rising Nonresponse Rates in Cross-Sectional Surveys," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 645(1), pages 36-59, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Bauwens, Thomas & Schraven, Daan & Drewing, Emily & Radtke, Jörg & Holstenkamp, Lars & Gotchev, Boris & Yildiz, Özgür, 2022. "Conceptualizing community in energy systems: A systematic review of 183 definitions," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 156(C).
    2. Neska, Ewa & Kowalska-Pyzalska, Anna, 2022. "Conceptual design of energy market topologies for communities and their practical applications in EU: A comparison of three case studies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    3. Gjorgievski, Vladimir Z. & Cundeva, Snezana & Georghiou, George E., 2021. "Social arrangements, technical designs and impacts of energy communities: A review," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 1138-1156.
    4. F.G. Reis, Inês & Gonçalves, Ivo & A.R. Lopes, Marta & Henggeler Antunes, Carlos, 2021. "Business models for energy communities: A review of key issues and trends," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Mehmet Efe Biresselioglu & Siyami Alp Limoncuoglu & Muhittin Hakan Demir & Johannes Reichl & Katrin Burgstaller & Alessandro Sciullo & Edoardo Ferrero, 2021. "Legal Provisions and Market Conditions for Energy Communities in Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Spain, and Turkey: A Comparative Assessment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-25, October.
    6. Lode, M.L. & te Boveldt, G. & Coosemans, T. & Ramirez Camargo, L., 2022. "A transition perspective on Energy Communities: A systematic literature review and research agenda," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    7. Radtke, Jörg & Bohn, Nino S., 2023. "Mind the gap: Community member perceptions of shortcomings in diversity and inclusivity of local energy projects in Germany," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    8. Kubli, Merla & Puranik, Sanket, 2023. "A typology of business models for energy communities: Current and emerging design options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 176(C).
    9. Busch, Henner & Ruggiero, Salvatore & Isakovic, Aljosa & Hansen, Teis, 2021. "Policy challenges to community energy in the EU: A systematic review of the scientific literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).
    10. Haji Bashi, Mazaher & De Tommasi, Luciano & Le Cam, Andreea & Relaño, Lorena Sánchez & Lyons, Padraig & Mundó, Joana & Pandelieva-Dimova, Ivanka & Schapp, Henrik & Loth-Babut, Karolina & Egger, Christ, 2023. "A review and mapping exercise of energy community regulatory challenges in European member states based on a survey of collective energy actors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 172(C).
    11. Vernay, Anne-Lorène & Sebi, Carine, 2020. "Energy communities and their ecosystems: A comparison of France and the Netherlands," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 158(C).
    12. Viktor Bukovszki & Ábel Magyari & Marina Kristina Braun & Kitti Párdi & András Reith, 2020. "Energy Modelling as a Trigger for Energy Communities: A Joint Socio-Technical Perspective," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-44, May.
    13. Minuto, Francesco Demetrio & Lanzini, Andrea, 2022. "Energy-sharing mechanisms for energy community members under different asset ownership schemes and user demand profiles," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    14. Mahzouni, Arian, 2019. "The role of institutional entrepreneurship in emerging energy communities: The town of St. Peter in Germany," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 297-308.
    15. Wang, Jianjun & Liu, Fang & Li, Li & Zhang, Jian, 2022. "More than innovativeness: Comparing residents’ motivations for participating renewable energy communities in different innovation segments," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C), pages 552-563.
    16. Li, Na & Okur, Özge, 2023. "Economic analysis of energy communities: Investment options and cost allocation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 336(C).
    17. Kazmi, Hussain & Munné-Collado, Íngrid & Mehmood, Fahad & Syed, Tahir Abbas & Driesen, Johan, 2021. "Towards data-driven energy communities: A review of open-source datasets, models and tools," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    18. Nuñez-Jimenez, Alejandro & Mehta, Prakhar & Griego, Danielle, 2023. "Let it grow: How community solar policy can increase PV adoption in cities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 175(C).
    19. Fioriti, Davide & Frangioni, Antonio & Poli, Davide, 2021. "Optimal sizing of energy communities with fair revenue sharing and exit clauses: Value, role and business model of aggregators and users," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 299(C).
    20. Lanka Horstink & Julia M. Wittmayer & Kiat Ng & Guilherme Pontes Luz & Esther Marín-González & Swantje Gährs & Inês Campos & Lars Holstenkamp & Sem Oxenaar & Donal Brown, 2020. "Collective Renewable Energy Prosumers and the Promises of the Energy Union: Taking Stock," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-30, January.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:3:p:1890-:d:743723. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.