How Much Energy Efficient are Renewable Energy Sources Cooperatives’ Initiatives?

Abstract

In this paper is provided a systematic, in-depth, behavioral analysis of renewable energy sources cooperatives' members. The analysis proved that in, on hand, there was a noticeable difference in the portion of affection of each proposed intervention on the actual energy consumption, which may be to even ten times more in some cases, and on the other hand, the difference in energy consumption between the analyzed groups was noticeable as well. So, implementing energy efficiency interventions of various types, such as technical support, special tariffs, energy generation schemes, and smart meters, seems to lead to substantial energy reductions to even more than 10%, cumulatively, and reduces the environmental footprint. Additionally, the majority of energy efficiency interventions applied by the renewable energy sources cooperatives are proved to be effective in achieving their primary goal, sensitizing members, and leading them to a more efficient energy consumption behavior ("greener"). The results of the analysis showed that each proposed intervention had played a different but nonetheless significant role in the diminishing of the energy consumption of the members and that there was a noticeable difference in energy consumption between the analyzed groups. The results of the analysis demonstrated more than 22 GWh totally in green consumption, and almost 4500 tons of CO 2 saved.Energies 2020, 13, 1136 2 of 22 REScoops started to form in the European Union several years ago, offering to their members the opportunity to purchase green energy, such as renewably generated electricity, at reasonable prices. Besides, they were able to become autonomous and independent concerning energy availability. Last, but not least, their members could interact democratically with other members and co-decide the cooperative's future [7,8].Furthermore, REScoops offer to discrete populations and companies the opportunity to become renewable power producers and to actively participate in cooperative energy consumption [9,10]. Additionally, REScoops suggest the established framework in order to implicate citizens with social, political, and nevertheless, financial features of RES distribution [11,12]. Last, but not least, there are several cases where REScoops enhance the effort of other systems relevant to RES systems, such as intelligent transportation one [13].As observed, the members of the contributing REScoops altered their behavior, reducing their final energy consumption, and invested money in order to produce green energy through RES [14,15]. Within the frame of the H2020 REScoop Plus Project, a better understanding is considered, and REScoops fostered this behavioral change employing the actions mentioned above. Energy consumers' dynamic contribution to conservation activities, and in self-production processes as well, seems to be the primary way to meet the European Commission's targets for near-zero carbon footprint, 100% green energy consumption, and energy democracy. As the transition to RES is primarily enforced politi...

Renewable Energy Communities as a New Actor in Home Energy Savings

“…The energy consumption data obtained from the REScoops allowed conducting longitudinal time series trend analysis that revealed several important findings (Sifakis et al, 2018(Sifakis et al, , 2019. The key finding is that implementing energy efficiency interventions of various types, such as technical support, special tariffs, energy generation schemes, and smart meters, leads to substantial energy reductions of more than 10%, cumulatively (Sifakis et al, 2020). More specifically, joining a REScoop was found to lead to a more than 20% reduction in electricity consumption.…”

“…Due to the availability of data, actual consumption data focused on electricity consumption (excluding gas and other sources needed for heating of homes and tap water). Next to longitudinal data sets additional data were obtained from REScoops (or companies performing energy service management to REScoops) about members and non-members clients (consuming energy supplied by REScoops, or persons otherwise connected as non-clients) to the REScoop community about their energy use (Sifakis et al, 2018(Sifakis et al, , 2020.…”

Energy Communities Promoting Home Energy Savings: Interventions, Theory and Results

“…These in particular concern the Dr. Watt program, Smart Meter installation, and EnergieID and InfoEnergia. Energy communities encouraging their members to install solar panels and become 'prosumers' was also found to have an impact (Sifakis et al, 2020). Moreover, the in-depth case study revealed that using energy ambassadors and local energy front offices ('energieloket' in Dutch) also seems to work effectively as they are well-practiced in this work and are valued by different stakeholders (Schwencke, 2021).…”

“…Longitudinal time series trend analysis revealed a number of important findings (Sifakis et al, 2018). The key finding is that implementing energy efficiency interventions of various types, such as technical support, special tariffs, energy generation schemes and smart meters, leads to substantial energy reductions of more than 10 per cent, cumulatively (Sifakis et al, 2020). More specifically, joining a REScoop was found to lead to a more than 20 per cent reduction in electricity consumption.…”

“…At Ecopower no less than 43 per cent of the respondents were found to be prosumers, generating their own green power, locally. The share of Ecopower members having installed solar panels at home did also increase sharply over recent years, encouraged by Ecopower's agency (Sifakis et al, 2020). Further, energy efficiency interventions of various kinds, such as technical support, special tariffs, energy generation schemes and installing smart meters, statistically correlate (positively) to substantial reductions in energy consumption: i.e., those who register with EnergieID save 10 per cent in energy consumption; those who partake in Dr. Watt training sessions at Enercoop were found to consume 13 per cent less electricity than others who did not partake; and those who had smart meters installed were found to consume over 26 per cent less electricity.…”