“Energy WITH Spirit” Facing Nowadays Challenges by Generating Sustainbale Energy in Solidary Energy Communities: First Project Insights

Knoll, Bente and Pfatschbacher-Zach, Katharina and Dopheide, Ralf and Renkin, Agnes and Draxler, Susanne and Benz, Gerald (2023) “Energy WITH Spirit” Facing Nowadays Challenges by Generating Sustainbale Energy in Solidary Energy Communities: First Project Insights. LET IT GROW, LET US PLAN, LET IT GROW. Nature-based Solutions for Sustainable Resilient Smart Green and Blue Cities. Proceedings of REAL CORP 2023, 28th International Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 235-244. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

Our world faces multiple challenges: The energy crisis is one of them and must be addressed at a local and regional as well as national and global level. In this transformation process of phasing out fossil energy sources, technical and social innovation must work closely together to foster long-term and sustainable changes. Generating energy from solar sources is one of the key sustainable and resource-efficient options we presently have . As stipulated in the European Green Deal, the goal is to phase out fossil fuels by 2050 with no net greenhouse gas emissions (European Commission, 2019). Sun and renewable energy sources are therefore key drivers for resilient and livable cities, societies, and economies. Just as the challenges of global change processes are unevenly distributed across the world, so are financial resources. People who are threatened or affected by poverty are more likely to be affected by energy poverty. According to a study from 2021, low-income households are significantly more affected by the rising energy prices (Maier- Kubala, 2021). Measures for energy transition and climate change adaptation are often associated with high costs and are therefore more likely to be implemented by people with higher incomes. To include vulnerable groups in the process of energy transition, the project "Energy WITH Spirit," solidarity-social energy communities, was established. The main aim of the project is for socially disadvantaged and poverty-affected households, as well as people in basic services and low-income earners , to benefit from the sustainable and solidary produced energy. 10 % of the energy produced in kWh or 10% of the profit generated in Euro will be donated to vulnerable groups. How this goal is implemented technically (e.g., smart metre rollout; photovoltaic systems and storage, optimal consumer mix), economically (e.g., billing modalities, digital billing), and organisationally (e.g., proof of household income and expenditure; selection of recipients of energy quotas) will be explored within the project. • The following target groups are involved in the solidarity-social energy communities: producers invest in sustainable energy generation through photovoltaic systems and set them up on their own properties, prosumers produce and consume part of their produced energy themselves (production and use under one roof) and consumers receive part of the energy produced by photovoltaic systems in the form of electricity. As consumers only, the project addresses the following groups: Socially disadvantaged and/or low-income households, people in basic services and the in-work impoverished who do not receive any government grants. • To better involve the target groups, knowledge-transfer and awareness-raising workshops are held to address and sensitise them to urban energy, environmental, and climate issues. According to the solidary approach, "Energy WITH Spirit" aims to overcome the challenges of the energy crisis by generating sustainable energy in a solidarity energy community by actively involving vulnerable groups in the energy transition process. The next steps of the project are the technical construction of the photovoltaic plants as well as the economic preparation of the solidary energy community. This process is accompanied by target group orientated and simple energy education workshops for the vulnerable groups.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	sustainability, transition, cooperation, energy communities, vulnerabilities
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor T Technology > TK Electrical engineering. Electronics Nuclear engineering
Depositing User:	REAL CORP Administrator
Date Deposited:	02 Oct 2023 20:36
Last Modified:	04 Oct 2023 17:43
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/995

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