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

Nikolaos Sifakis, Tryfon Daras and Theocharis Tsoutsos
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Nikolaos Sifakis: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Kounoupidiana Campus, 73100 Chania, Greece
Tryfon Daras: School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Kounoupidiana Campus, 73100 Chania, Greece
Theocharis Tsoutsos: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Systems Lab, School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, Kounoupidiana Campus, 73100 Chania, Greece

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 5, 1-22

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.

Keywords: energy efficiency; prosumer; energy behavior; renewable energy cooperatives (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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