Abstract
Title: The exploration of energy storage applications by local energy communities
Authors: Mieke Oostra, Tineke van der Schoor
More and more local communities have the desire to collectively cut off gas supply and become energy-neutral as village, city neighbourhood or region. Up till now, energy storage was not a realistic option for local energy initiatives (LEI’s) in the Netherlands. However, since prices of energy storage solutions drop, an evaluation of the Feed-In Tariff is imminent and experimentation with energy prices offers new opportunities, local energy initiatives are beginning to explore what energy storage has to offer.
Two case studies in the Northern region of the Netherlands are explored to find out how to integrate storage in community energy systems. We conducted focus groups, interviews and desk research. Case study one consists of LEI’s Paddepoel Energiek and Grunneger Power who have the ambition to be energy neutral in 2030. They are actively exploring energy options for the Paddepoel district. The storage option, which is currently studied, is related to existing batteries in an old telecom district office. Questions to be answered are: how it could look technically, socially and economically, and under what conditions such a solution could fit in the business model. Case study two looks at a project in the town of Mensingeweer, in the province of Groningen. Here the business case combining a solar project with energy storage is investigated.
The theoretical framework of this paper is based on social and technical innovation trajectories as described in the theories of Strategic Niche Management (SNM) and Multi Level Perspective (MLP).
Our cases give new insights in the difficulties surrounding the integration of innovative storage in complex sustainable energy projects.
