How to give (smart energy) power to people?
People shall be at the core of the energy transition: tackling the social challenges intertwined with the energy system changes is crucial. Focus is moving from a component oriented to a socio-technological analysis of power system dynamics. This is why we support EU initiatives for a just twinned green and digital transition by studying the acceptance, involvement and engagement issues at the interface between the social and the technical layers of the electricity system.
In order to understand the complexity of future smart grids, one needs to shift the focus from a component oriented to an interaction oriented view of the electric power system. In this context, studying the acceptance, involvement and engagement dynamics at the interface between the social and the technical layers becomes increasingly important.
The engagement of the electricity consumers may play a key role in sustaining policies promoting renewable energy penetration in the electricity system and more efficient use of electric energy. Nonetheless, what is for consumers in this digital grid revolution?
The search for innovative regulatory, technical and market solutions – such as anticipating the consumers' patterns and preferences or installing Advanced Metering Infrastructure – to change the way consumers perceive the electricity commodity is on the increase.
The current smart grid engagement strategies strongly focus on the residential sector and distribution system operators take a leading role. As most of the obstacles to consumer engagement have to do with a high-level of consumer skepticism and wariness, the key to successful strategies for consumer engagement lies in building trust and confidence among consumers.
Our science for policy activities
Regulatory Experimentation
We investigate the role of regulatory experimentation as an innovation tool to enable and facilitate the energy transition.
Support to Energy Communities
We assist energy communities (including the Italy’s first-of-a-kind energy community) with data, know-how, and simulation capacity.
Collective actions and consumer protection
We assess collective action projects combining new technologies, business models and engagement approaches to support consumers in changing the way they use electricity.
Agent Based Modelling
We assessed smart energy systems by considering the multiplicity of interacting agents that operate as independent decision makers.
Complex Systems Analysis
We relied on complexity science approach to capture the broad range of interactions between actors, components and layers in the smart energy systems.
Cost-benefit analysis of smart grids/meters
We provided guidance for conducting cost benefit analysis of smart grid projects by developing a step by step assessment framework.