Case study: Energy communities: how to evaluate digital technologies

1. Welcome

It’s important to make informed decisions when selecting new digital technologies for your energy community. Whether your energy community aims to reduce carbon emissions, foster local ownership or strengthen democratic participation, there’s a digital technology for your needs. As an energy community member or leader, you may be considering:

• What kinds of digital technologies may best support and/or further your energy community aims. 
• What selection criteria and evaluation process you will use when assessing different digital technologies.

By reviewing this case study, you will: 

• Understand why evaluating digital technologies is important.
• Be aware of key criteria for evaluating digital technologies. 
• Be able to list key digital technologies and describe their use within the European energy community context. 

Every1 case studies aim to support conversation, reflection and action on a key topic. Case studies provide key facts, examples, a short video, practical advice and reflective questions.  

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2. Factsheet

Central to making informed decisions about digital tools and technologies is the evaluation process. Digital tools do not operate in isolation – they shape the way energy communities function, collaborate, and evolve over time. In this fact sheet you will:

• Find out why evaluating digital technologies is important.
• Explore key criteria for evaluating digital technologies.
• Consider two examples of digital technology use within the European context.

Download Energy communities: How to evaluate digital technologies - EN (280.3 KB) (PDF)

Go deeper! Explore some examples of digital technologies supporting European energy communities:  

Smart meters 

Smart meters provide real-time data on energy flows, enabling detailed monitoring and management of energy consumption and production. Smart meters can also facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources, allowing for more efficient distribution and balancing of energy within the community. One example is highlighted by the Maakjemeterslim.be [BE] website, a resource created by Flux50, the Environment Department, Fluvius, and Volta.

Data Analytics Platforms 

Data analytics platforms play a crucial role in processing the vast amounts of data generated by smart meters and other sources within energy communities. 

These platforms employ algorithms and models to identify patterns, predict energy demand, and optimise energy distribution. By analysing energy consumption trends, these platforms can help communities integrate renewable energy sources more effectively, ensuring that locally generated solar or wind power is used efficiently and minimising reliance on external sources. As seen on the factsheet, one example is Flux50's work on Energy Cloud Platforms which supports a system where energy data can be shared securely and used to develop intelligent applications that further optimise energy management within communities.

Blockchain 

Blockchain technology offers a secure and transparent way to facilitate peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading within energy communities. In a P2P energy trading system, community members can buy and sell energy directly from each other, often using locally generated renewable energy. Blockchain's decentralised and immutable nature ensures that these transactions are recorded accurately and transparently, fostering trust among participants and reducing the need for intermediaries. Research by Collective Energy Coop (COEN) has explored the economic benefits of such local energy markets, demonstrating the potential for blockchain to enhance the feasibility of renewable energy investments and provide cost savings for community members.

Community Energy Management Systems 

Community energy management systems are software platforms that coordinate the various aspects of energy production, storage, and distribution within an energy community. 

These systems integrate data from smart meters, renewable energy sources, and energy storage devices to optimise energy flows, balance supply and demand, and enable energy sharing among members. By managing energy collectively, communities can maximise the use of locally generated renewable energy, reduce energy costs, and increase energy resilience. COEN's involvement in projects like DECODIT showcases how data-driven approaches and community energy management systems can optimise renewable energy usage and improve the overall efficiency of energy cooperatives.

3. Video

Coming soon! 

4. Reflective Questions

If you are an energy community leader, you may want to consider these questions together with others in your energy community. These questions will help get your started in your evaluation of digital technologies: 

• What challenges does our energy community face? How can different digital tools and technologies address these challenges? 
• How can energy community members be actively involved in the evaluation and selection of digital technologies? 
• What process and evaluation criteria will we use?  
• What support (national, regional, municipal) is available to use specific digital technologies? 

5. Other Every1 Resources

You may find the following learning materials from Every1 useful: 

• If you haven’t done so already, you might want to review the case study Energy communities: getting started with digitalisation.
• Explore learning materials in our curated Security and Data Privacy in Energy Systems learning pathway.
• Explore the slide deck Circularity and the digital energy transition.

You can also explore our Every1 Knowledge Hub, which has more than 80 different learning materials on digital energy topics, many available in a range of European languages. 

6. Acknowledgements

This case study and its components were created by the Every1 project and are licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, unless otherwise stated.  

Main case study image: Black iphone 7 on macbook by Siyuan Hu is licensed on an Unsplash license.

Factsheet

Icons used (aside from the Every1 logo, funded by the EU logo and related images) are used according to Canva licensing terms. 

Video

Coming soon! 

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) under grant agreement No 101075596. The sole responsibility for the content of this course lies with the Every1 project and does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the European Union.