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| Thesis topic proposal |
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Description of the research topic:
1 / The announced research topic
The concept of sustainable development has developed into a guiding principle of the vision of a livable world, where human needs are met while keeping the balance with nature. The challenges of sustainability require long-term thinking and the integration of several elements. Energy is one of them. Putting the global energy system on a sustainable path appears as a problem and as a political objective in the same time.
In the recent years, a significant structural change in the supply side of the world's electricity production has begun, which on the European continent started from Germany. It is expected in the coming years, that e-mobility, CNG chargers, P2X technologies and electric heat pumps will further strengthen the demand side. Overall, according to our current technical knowledge, both the production of electricity and its use will become increasingly uncertain and hectic. Our consumption habits will change. It must be taken into account that electricity is a special product, and its consumption and production must be balanced in every moment.
The above raises technical and economic problems. One of the partial or complementary solutions can be the consumer demand regulation - DSM (Demand Side Management). Electricity service is a “real time” system. This means that electricity must be generated when there is a demand for it. So, production and consumption must meet at all times, otherwise the balance will be upset. However the majority of consumers cannot be regulated (currently they are passive).
The task of the research is to examine in what management structure in Hungary it is possible and worthwhile to operate on the fulfillment of the growing rights of consumers, such as; creating energy communities, defining the conditions of the organization of consumers into the network, describing the characteristics of the emerging organizations and the main features of its operation, and the examination of business models. It is necessary to examine what new product(s)/service(s) can be created and what additional incentives may help the product/service to enter the market. It is also necessary to identify the success criteria that make the energy consumer an active user and which is able to make the independent aggregator a real competitor to the DSOs by selling a new type of flexibility product. Thanks to the direct involvement of the consumers, the energy community initiatives can be a good way of demonstrating their ability to foster the diffusion of new technologies and consumption patterns, including smart grids and demand-side responses in an integrated way.
2 / The actuality of the research topic
The emergence of a sustainable global energy system is a gradual, long-term process that requires a profound transformation of the current structure. As it is defined in the Directive (EU) 2019/944 of the European Parliament and the Council (5th of June 2019) on the common rules for the internal market in electricity and in the amending Directive 2012/27/EU – in contrast of the traditional energy companies – energy community initiatives do not focus on profit, but primarily on providing affordable energy from a given renewable energy source to their members or stakeholders. Thanks to the direct involvement of consumers, energy community initiatives can be a good way for demonstrating their ability to foster the diffusion of new technologies and consumption patterns, including smart grids and demand-side responses, in an integrated way. On the consumer side, increasing energy efficiency, exploiting the potential of decentralized backyard energy production, optimizing different wired supply methods and flexible consumer behavior can contribute to a cost-effective and innovative energy supply. The regulatory and network operation challenges posed by the significant and proportionate system integration of renewables also call for pilot projects in the field of electricity supply that offer an alternative to the partial replacement of the current energy supply chain.
Initiatives that have already been successfully implemented have brought sustainable economic, social and environmental benefits to the community beyond the mere benefits of providing energy services.
Relevant publications on:
1. Ksenia Poplavskaya, Laurensde Vries: Behind and Beyond the Meter Digitalisation, Aggregation, Optimization, Monetization, Chapter 5 - Aggregators today and tomorrow: from intermediaries to local orchestrators ?, Academic Press, pp 105-135, 2020
2. Inês FGReis, IvoGonçalves, Marta ARLopes, Carlos Henggeler Antunes: A multi-agent system approach to exploit demand-side flexibility in an energy community, Utilities Policy Volume 67, Articlev101114, December 2020
3. Ioan Petri, Masoud Barati, Yacine Rezgui, Omer F.Rana: Blockchain for energy sharing and trading in distributed prosumer communities, Computers in Industry Volume 123, December 2020, Aricle 103282
4. Susana Soeiro, Marta Ferreira Dias: Renewable energy community and the European energy market: main motivati ons, Heliyon Volume 6, Issue 7, e04511, July 2020
5. Swantje Gährs, JanKnoefel: Stakeholder demands and regulatory framework for community energy storage with a focus on Germany, Energy Policy, Volume 144, 111678, September 2020
6. Simon De Clercq, Daniel Schwabeneder, Carlo Corinaldesi, Andreas Fleischhacker: Chapter 14 - Emerging aggregator business models in European electricity markets, Behind and Beyond the Meter, Digitalization, Aggregation, Optimization, Monetization, Pages 285-303, 2020
7. S.Seyyedeh Barhagh, B.Mohammadi-Ivatloo, A .Anvari-Moghaddam, S.Asadi: Risk-involved participation of electric vehicle aggregator in energy markets with robust decision-making approach, Journal of Cleaner Production, Volume 239, 118076, 1 December 2019
3 / Key issues to be examined in the lights of the research topic:
The aim of the research is to examine a Hungarian pilot project and to set up a baseline methodology in order to create a model for new solutions and their organizational, operational, innovative novel approaches and to become internationally comparable with other solutions.
• Is it possible to draw a line between the concept of aggregation and regulatory center?
• What are the conditions for networking?
• What are the main features of an energy community as an organization?
• What are the economic and organizational conditions of the operation of an independent aggregator?
• What kind of contracts could cover trader-consumer and aggregator-consumer relationships in terms of economic sustainability?
• What business model is needed to create a win-win situation for all parties involved?
• What consumer protection guarantees are justified and necessary in the aggregator-consumer relationship?
• Is it possible to develop an operational and accounting model within the energy community/independent aggregator in which the customer's full supply contract with the supplier's electricity trader can be maintained, or is it necessary to break the consumer's contractual relationship into a schedule and a partial supply contract?
• From a management point of view, can the aggregator function be developed for an unlicensed market player?
• What economic incentives can be used to allow a regulatory center (aggregator) to reach a market player that is in a foreign balance sheet, thus achieving CEP's original goal of being a truly “independent” aggregator?
• What measurement methodology must the consumers in aggregation have in order to be eligible for balancing-energy billing periods under Article 2 (10) of the BALNC?
Expected results of the research: The development of a baseline methodology (from a legal, regulatory, economic, commercial, measurement and technological point of view) and the establishment and testing of a sustainable and viable business model.
In terms of sustainability, environmental and economic aspects, a functional and traceable pilot projects should be implemented, which, based on the institutional and operational experience, can serve as an example, and at the same time reveal the difficulties and limitations of exploiting the potential of energy communities, aggregation and active user behavior. An explicit goal is to examine the regulatory capabilities of the users, as well as the feasibility of demand-side responses.
During the project, the elements of the data transmission, the measurement and settlement system between the producers and consumers which has to be included in the aggregation, as well as the external actors in a contractual relationship with the aggregator will be elaborated, and the systems will be set up and tested. The goal is to create a business model that is financially and economically viable for the energy community/independent aggregator activity. The definition of the economic elements should also cover economies of scale and the benefits of providing other services.
Although a number of alternative sustainable energy pathways may emerge, the creation of the so-called "energy communities" has received special attention in the recent times. An energy community and an independent aggregator seem to be a viable and beneficial option in meeting sustainability goals.
4 / The possible database of the study:
• Technical, regulatory, financial and economic data generated during the implementation of the pilot project
• Available international projects
• Qualitative research with semi-structured management interviews (industry, regulatory, official actors, TSO - Mavír, 20 consumers, DSOs, independent aggregator)
• Evaluation: content analysis and case study methods (15-20 interviews)
5 / Publications related to the supervising field (not necessarily related to the research) (max. 5 most important):
Dr. habil Gábor: Gábor
1. PintérPintér; Zsiborács, Henrik; Mrs. Hegedűs Baranyai, Nóra; Vincze, András; Birkner, Zoltán: The Economic and Geographical Aspects of the Status of Small-Scale Photovoltaic Systems in Hungary — A Case Study, ENERGIES 13: 13 p. 3489 (2020)
2. Zsiborács, Henrik; Baranyai, Nóra Hegedűsné; Vincze, András; Zentkó, László; Birkner, Zoltán; Matthew, King; Pintér, Gábor, Intermittent Renewable Energy Sources: The Role of Energy Storage in the European Power System of 2040, ELECTRONICS 8: 7 Paper: 729, 18 p. (2019)
3. Zsiborács, Henrik; Mrs. Hegedűs Baranyai, Nóra; Zentkó, László; Mórocz, Adrián; Pócs, István; Matthew, King; Pintér, Gábor: Electricity Market Challenges of Photovoltaic and Energy Storage Technologies in the European Union: Regulatory Challenges and Responses, APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL 10: 4 p. 1472, 26 p. (2020)
4. Henrik, Zsiborács; Béla, Pályi; Gábor, Pintér; József, Popp; Peter, Balogh; Zoltán, Gabnai; Károly, Pető; István, Farkas; Nóra, Hegedűsné Baranyai; Attila, Bai, Technical-economic study of cooled crystalline solar modules, SOLAR ENERGY 140 pp. 227-235. , 9 p. (2016)
5. Gábor, Pintér; Nóra, Hegedűsné Baranyai; Alec, Wiliams; Henrik, Zsiborács: Study of Photovoltaics and LED Energy Efficiency: Case Study in Hungary, ENERGIES 11: 4 Paper: 790, 13 p. (2018)
Dr. Nóra Rodek:
1. Zsuzsanna Marton; Ildikó Ernszt; Rodek Nóra; Máhr Tivadar: Hope and responsibility vested in younger generations: the case of Hungary, INTERDISCIPLINARY DESCRIPTION OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS (1334-4684 1334-4676): 18 2 pp 286-298 (2020)
2. Máhr Tivadar; Zoltán Birkner; Nerk Berkesné Rodek: Soundness and sustainability research in regional and settlement development programs (2014-2020), INTERDISCIPLINARY DESCRIPTION OF COMPLEX SYSTEMS (1334-4684 1334-4676): 16. 2 pp 289-301 (2018)
3. Berkesné, Rodek Nóra: CSR EMAT is an Opportunity for Responsible Decision-Making, NASE GOSPODARSTVO / OUR ECONOMY 63: 3 pp. 37-46., 10 p. (2017)
4. Birkner, Zoltán; Máhr, Tivadar; Berkes, Rodek Nóra: Changes in Responsibilities and Tasks of Universities in Regional Innovation Ecosystems, NASE GOSPODARSTVO / OUR ECONOMY 63: 2 pp. 15-21. Paper: o, 7 p. (2017)
5. Birkner, Zoltán; Máhr, Tivadar; Peter, Elizabeth; Berkesné, Rodek Nóra: Characteristics of Innovation in Regions with Small- and Medium- Sized Towns, NASE GOSPODARSTVO / OUR ECONOMY 64 .: 2. pp. 34-42, 9 p. (2018)
6 / Name of the most important domestic and international journals publishing in the topic, and their AD, Q1-Q4 classification (max. 5)
Energies, Q2,
Sustainability Q2,
Applied Sciences, Q1
Energy Management (BME), A/B
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews D1
Required language skills: English
Number of students who can be accepted: 2
Deadline for application: 2021-01-08 |
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