UrbanEnergyCells

Stadt der Zukunft - 3. Ausschreibung

Technische Universität Wien - Institut für Energiesysteme und elektrische Antriebe - Energy Economics Group (TUW-EEG)

Sonnenplatz Großschönau GmbH

Wien Energie GmbH

The transformation of the currently hierarchical power system towards a renewable and decentralized power system, means that players in the energy economy will have to face major challenges. So far, the majority of currently decentralized and renewable energy sources has primarily been implemented in rural areas, which is explained by easier legal implementation and shorter decision-making processes. However, urban areas display a much higher energy density, which means that networks transport electrical energy to centers of consumption. Consequently, the higher the rural renewable energy production, the higher the extension of networks. Based on challenges of future energy system designs, the research question of project “”Urban Energy Cells” went as follows: How can new and specific business and financing models achieve a significant increase in decentralized, renewable producers in urban areas? The implementation of energy cells or microgrids holdes an enormous potential . However, this poses a number of challenges in urban areas (e.g., Ownership structure, legal barriers, economic efficiency). On the other hand, aggregating consumption and decentralized production also offer new business segments for energy service providers. For instance, these providers could take over financing, construction, operation and maintenance of decentralized producers, storages and networks in energy cells. This facilitates effortless integration of renewable and decentralized energies into urban areas. Through the joint consideration of energy, heat and gas sectors, the project at hand represents a hybrid perspective on the energy system.

A first step included an evaluation of legal and economic parameters of current business and financing models for energy cells, as well as an evaluation of existing incentives for making demand more flexible. Building on that, possible future hybrid energy system designs were developed. Subsequently, new alternative business and financing models for energy cells were developed. Next, these models were quantified via techno-economic modelling and then ordered, according to economic efficiency, sustainability and practicality.

Findings include:

• Classification of existing business and financing models for hybrid energy systems,
• Conclusions drawn from profitability analyses of hybrid energy service providers,
• Development of business and financing models of urban energy service providers,
• Risk assessment of investment safety,
• Identification of legal driving forces and barriers,
• Analysis of potentials of feasible projects.