Identifying Challenges in Engaging Users to Increase Self-Consumption of Electricity in Microgrids

Fouad El Gohary, Sofie Nyström, Lizette Reitsma and Cajsa Bartusch
Additional contact information
Fouad El Gohary: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, Box 169, 751 04 Uppsala, Sweden
Sofie Nyström: Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Teknikringen 10 B, 100 44 Stockholm, Sweden
Lizette Reitsma: Department of Culture and Society, Malmö University, 205 06 Malmö, Sweden
Cajsa Bartusch: Department of Civil and Industrial Engineering, Uppsala University, Box 169, 751 04 Uppsala, Sweden

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-27

Abstract: A microgrid’s self-consumption rate reflects its ability to retain its own energy and decrease its reliance on the synchronous grid. This paper investigates the empirical case of a microgrid equipped with photovoltaic (PV) panels and identifies challenges in engaging the microgrid’s users to increase their self-consumption. Accordingly, we explored both the physical and social dimensions of the microgrid. The former involved mapping the electricity consumption and production through an exploratory data analysis, and evaluating the associated price signals, while the latter involved the use of design interventions to explore users’ perceptions of the system. We highlight the problem of price signal impedance, the need for cost reflective pricing and the challenge in designing and extending internal price models in settings with various actors. We address the limitations of price signals, alongside alternative unidimensional signals, and emphasize the need for an integrated approach to a user engagement strategy as well as the challenges that this approach entails. Our results shed light on the complexity of energy communities such as microgrids, and why their implementation can introduce multidimensional challenges that demand cross-disciplinary approaches.

Keywords: energy community; microgrid; price model; self-consumption; user engagement; design methodology; playful triggers; passive prosumer (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: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1257/pdf (application/pdf)
https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1257/ (text/html)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:5:p:1257-:d:505587

Access Statistics for this article

Energies is currently edited by Ms. Agatha Cao

More articles in Energies from MDPI
Bibliographic data for series maintained by MDPI Indexing Manager ().