NETSE - User orientated development of technologies and services for energy communities

Motivation and research question

In 2017, the EU Winter Package laid the foundations for discussions on energy communities, which resulted in amendments to the Electricity Market Directive and the Renewable Energy Directive. These specified two types of energy communities, the Renewable Energy Community (EEG) and the Citizens' Energy Community (BEG). The legal basis for EEGs was created in Austria with the entry into force of section 16c of the ELWOG 2010 on 28 July 2021. The NETSE project was developed immediately before this date and implemented by the end of 2023. The NETSE research project aimed to research the basics of the state of the art and develop solutions that serve EEGs. The numerous research questions can be summarised with the following guiding research question: What are the technical, economic and social requirements for an EEG and what solutions are needed for successful implementation?

Initial situation/status quo

The project content and objectives were derived from practical considerations and problems. The operation of an EEG requires data and data exchange. Data exchange between the EEG and its members, the EEG and the distribution grid operators as well as between technical units such as battery storage and e-charging infrastructure must at least be guaranteed. One objective of the project was therefore to research and define data interfaces and hardware that would enable the billing of an EEG and the implementation of other services such as the integration of charging points, flexible loads and storage systems. The user-centred development of a service platform for the organisation and, in particular, billing of EEGs was also a key objective. The success of an EEG itself and, above all, of services for EEGs is also measured by its economic viability. Another issue therefore concerned the development of business models that at least cover costs. The business models require assumptions on electricity consumption and generation as well as tariff models. The development of suitable generation and load profiles as well as tariff models were therefore also part of the project. Using the data developed and measured in the use case, a further objective was to optimise the interaction between generation and consumption in line with the EEG. This was to be achieved with an optimisation calculation in OptEnGrid. On the basis of EEGs developed in parallel to the NETSE project and a use case in Wieselburg, the aim was to derive principles of action for the successful establishment and operation of an EEG and its scalability.

Methodical procedure

The multi-layered research questions and objectives required an equally multi-layered choice of methods. The following methods were used for technology development, modelling and optimisation (1), user research and service development (2) and community building (3):

1. literature and market research, modelling and optimisation, use case models and scenarios
2. stakeholder analysis, acceptance and touchpoint analysis, service blueprinting, usability engineering supported by participant observation, focus group research and an online survey
3. literature research, personal interviews with stakeholders

Results and conclusions

The following results are available at the end of the project:

1. Overview of communication technologies, protocols and interfaces
2. Stakeholder analysis
3. Acceptance and touchpoint analysis
4. Tariff models for EEGs
5. Validated business models for the operation of an EEG
6. A service platform for the initiation, establishment and operation of an EEG (EGON)
7. A model for optimising EEGs and optimisation recommendations
8. Load profile models as the basis for optimised planning for EEGs
9. Replication & upscaling guide of EEG models/methods for future practical tests
10.  EEG implementation concept: phases, roles, timeline
11.  Lessons learnt from Kremsmünster and central key topics and tasks for EEGs

Outlook

The evaluations of the use of new technologies in energy communities have shown that the use of "real-time" data is necessary in order to utilise them sensibly. New technologies are therefore required, which must be very cost-effective due to the economic framework conditions of energy communities.

Development of software for the integration of charging points in energy communities:
The software for operating the charging points does not currently provide for integration into an energy community. Software development is required here to enable barrier-free integration.
An online survey of potential users of charging points carried out as part of the project shows that EEG members without a charging facility at their place of residence, for example because they live in a block of flats, are particularly interested in an EEG charging facility. The charging point should be within walking distance and a low-cost charging current is more important than a fast charging option.

The "municipal EEG operator model" developed in the research project harbours great opportunities for small and medium-sized municipalities in small and Leader regions in Austria. Piloting and customising the municipal EEG operator model presented here is also recommended for other Austrian regions.

Project management

University for Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt / Department for Sustainable Energy Systems and Bio.Economy

Project or cooperation partners

• 4Ward research GmbH
• BEST research GmbH
• Austrian Institute for Technology AIT
• Microtronics Engineering GmbH
• Municipality of Wieselburg
• Ella GmbH
• Netz Niederösterreich GmbH
• EVN AG

University for Applied Sciences Wiener Neustadt / Department for Sustainable Energy Systems and Bio.Economy
Dipl.-Ing. Dr. Franz Theuretzbacher
Zeiselgraben 4
A-3251 Purgstall
Tel.: +43 (7416) 53000 480
E-mail: franz.theuretzbacher@fhwn.ac.at
Web: www.fhwn.ac.at