Thermal/Cooling Energy on Local Energy Communities: A Critical Review

Adamantios G. Papatsounis, Pantelis N. Botsaris and Stefanos Katsavounis
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Adamantios G. Papatsounis: Department of Production and Management Engineering, Sector of Materials, Processes and Mechanics, Lab of Mechanical Design (MeDiLab), Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Pantelis N. Botsaris: Department of Production and Management Engineering, Sector of Materials, Processes and Mechanics, Lab of Mechanical Design (MeDiLab), Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67100 Xanthi, Greece
Stefanos Katsavounis: Department of Production and Management Engineering, Sector of Materials, Processes and Mechanics, Lab of Mechanical Design (MeDiLab), Democritus University of Thrace, Vas. Sofias 12, 67100 Xanthi, Greece

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-20

Abstract: One of the most crucial factors for energy transition and the incorporation of renewable energy sources into the existing energy map is citizen engagement. Local energy communities (LECs), which are cooperative-based coalitions aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the residential building sector, have received increasing attention in the past decade. This is because residential buildings account for almost half of the total energy consumed worldwide. A resounding 75% of it is used for thermal energy consumption, heating and cooling, cooking and bathing. However, the main focus of the literature worldwide is explicitly on electrical LECs, despite the fact that the significant increase in natural gas and oil prices, creates instability in the heating and cooling prices. The scope of this study is to provide an overview of the research field regarding Thermal LECs, using both a thorough literature review as well as bibliometric analysis (VOSviewer software), in order to validate the findings of the review. The results indicate a collective scarcity of literature in the field of thermal/cooling energy communities, despite their proven value to the energy transition. A significant lack of directives, research background and state initiatives in the context of LECs incorporating thermal/cooling energy production, storage and distribution systems, was also observed. Case studies and the applications of such systems are scarce in the available literature, while published studies need further feasibility assessments.

Keywords: local energy community; thermal energy; local production; VOSviewer; bibliometrics (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: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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