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The social factors shaping community microgrid operation

Author

Listed:
  • Gurupraanesh Raman

    (National University of Singapore
    CREATE campus)

  • Yang Yang

    (CREATE campus
    National University of Singapore)

  • Jimmy Chih-Hsien Peng

    (National University of Singapore)

Abstract

When extreme weather events result in power blackouts, the critical electricity needs of a community can continue to be met by utilizing localized energy resources. The collective setup of these resources is referred to as a microgrid. Here, we carry out a survey to study the preferences of 1021 US residents on how the finite energy stored in a community microgrid should be rationed amongst various participating households during prolonged blackouts. Particularly, a differentiated service paradigm—where certain consumers can pay more to avail of higher energy quotas—received support from over 91.8% of respondents, despite the zero-sum nature of such rationing. We also report that respondents were receptive to selling between 42–53% of their stored energy to the microgrid should they own personal backup devices—what we call willingness-to-sell—balancing self-preservation and monetary compensation. Studying the factors influencing the responses on the fairness of differentiated service (for consumers) and willingness-to-sell (for storage owners), we identify for policymakers and businesses that an energy-as-a-service model is socially acceptable for community microgrids.

Suggested Citation

  • Gurupraanesh Raman & Yang Yang & Jimmy Chih-Hsien Peng, 2024. "The social factors shaping community microgrid operation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-50736-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50736-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
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