In recent years, the concept of energy communities has gained significant traction, sparking discussions about how they could reshape our perception and use of energy in everyday life.
But what exactly are these communities, and what role do they play in the shift towards a more sustainable energy future?
The Role of Energy Communities in Decentralising the Energy Market
Energy communities, at their core, are collectives of individuals, households, municipalities, public institutions or businesses that assemble to generate, share, or manage energy in a more localised and democratic way. In the context of the transition to sustainable energy, energy communities serve as strategic players. They empower individuals to take control of their energy consumption, promote the use of renewables like solar, wind, or biomass, and foster energy independence at a local level
Utilizing Digital Technologies to Strengthen Energy Community Operations
The decentralized nature of renewable energy sources calls for advanced digital solutions to improve the management of electricity consumption, align supply with demand, and make full use of the existing grid infrastructure. Additionally, energy communities – much like managing complex networks of participants – require a solid IT system to effectively coordinate between members and streamline operations. Digital tools empower communities to participate in energy exchange programs and peer-to-peer electricity markets. These collaborative approaches, driven by joint investments, offer a way to mitigate the risks of fluctuating energy prices in traditional markets.
Supporting Energy Communities with Innovative Solutions
Our organization supports the growth of energy communities by providing software platform that streamline their management and coordination. With tools for tracking energy consumption, sharing resources, and managing projects, we enable communities to operate more efficiently and sustainably. The platform also automates key administrative tasks such as report generation, energy monitoring, and billing management, reducing the need for manual work and improving overall productivity. We are focused on creating a scalable and replicable solution for energy communities, starting with our pilot project, which can be easily implemented in all energy communities across Europe.
Introducing the Gabrovo Energy Community Platform
We are pleased to announce the successful launch of our platform for the ‘Gabrovo Energy Community’, designed to simplify resource management and participant coordination. Built with a focus both on user experience and operational efficiency, the platform offers access to comprehensive functionalities like detailed view of all community sites, different energy consumption graph reports, shared documents, and much more. The interface tailored to different user roles, allow admins and community members to efficiently navigate and access relevant data.
We’ve implemented a Business Intelligence (BI) solution that generates comprehensive reports and visual graphics, allowing users to track produced vs. forecasted energy, also analyze energy distribution, including both electricity consumed by the community on site and any energy distributed to the other participants in the community through the grid. It also displays overall energy consumption, showing how energy is supplied – whether from the wholesale electricity market or from the community. All reports offer a clear breakdown by specific periods and can be filtered by community members or clients, providing valuable insights into energy sourcing and usage patterns.
We have also integrated with installed control devices to accurately measure the energy produced and returned to the grid. Additionally, we integrated with the electricity supplier to receive precise data on actual consumption for each site and track how the energy returned to the grid is distributed.
Looking ahead, the platform is built for scalability, with plans to integrate further functionalities such as electricity price information, billing services, energy management tools, alerts, and goal-setting capabilities. Its flexible architecture ensures that the system will continue to evolve, making it a critical, future-ready tool for energy communities.
About the project:
Structure of the Energy Community
The Gabrovo Energy Community is a local energy initiative with 73 members, including 5 non-household customers. These non-household members include facilities managed by the municipality. Strategically, the community aims to attract small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), public authorities, and other non-household entities.
Project to Enhance Green Transition
The project aims to support the green transition by creating a local energy community that provides clean and affordable green energy to its members. The community consists of various participants, including energy producers, energy consumers, and investors.
Gabrovo and the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral Cities
Gabrovo was selected as one of 112 cities to participate in the EU Mission for 100 climate-neutral and smart cities by 2030, known as the Cities Mission. Gabrovo, along with other designated cities, receives tailored support and advice from the Mission Platform, managed by NetZeroCities, to achieve climate neutrality by 2030 and inspire others to follow by 2050.
Future Growth and Development
Currently, the energy community operates a photovoltaic plant and plans to expand by building and connecting additional renewable energy plants in the future. The multi-faceted structure allows participants to collaborate, contribute, and benefit from the shared clean energy resources.
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