Article Published in Sustainability Journal (MDPI)

In this paper, the authors explores how active energy users and end-users can become integral players in renewable energy systems. The study identifies key barriers limiting consumer participation and highlights strategies for unlocking the potential of community-driven energy transitions. This research is closely aligned with the objectives of the Driving Urban Transitions Partnership, elaborated within project PERSIST, where we focus on empowering citizens in Positive Energy Districts.

Assessing the Role of Electricity Sharing in Meeting the Prerequisites for Receiving Renewable Support in Latvia

by Lubova Petrichenko, Anna Mutule, Ivars Zalitis, Roberts Lazdins, Jevgenijs Kozadajevs, and Darja Mihaila

Abstract

Active customers play a critical role in the successful implementation of support schemes, paving the way for the emergence of an energy community. This analysis explores the cooperation among active customers and the implications for developing energy communities. Furthermore, the motivations for consumers becoming active customers in the context of Latvia are illuminated, while also exploring the broader context of navigating the complex regulatory landscape to promote self-consumption. In contrast to prior studies, which often focus on individual or homogenous group participation, this analysis uniquely examines collaborative frameworks that incorporate varied customer categories and profiles. This approach not only underscores the role of tailored regulatory structures in fostering self-consumption, but also presents practical policy insights for incentivizing community-based energy models. The findings reveal that individual participation of active customers in support schemes only achieves the minimal self-consumption threshold in 47% of cases. In contrast, membership in an energy community significantly increases this rate, reaching 84%. These encouraging results underscore the importance of promoting energy community membership among active customers, which subsequently demonstrates substantial potential when promoted across diverse load profile categories. Additionally, the integration of photovoltaic and wind turbine technologies consistently improves self-consumption values.