Profitability of RE-Technology Regarding the Economic Environment:A Case Study of Swiss SMEs

Considering the important changes in the Swiss energy sector, especially in renewable energy(RE)technologies, new revenue possibilities for small and medium sized enterprises(SMEs) emerge. However, the adaption of RE-technologies for Swiss enterprises relies on tangible financial returns, based on complex calculations. This article analyses business opportunities(BOs) of eight Swiss SMEs considering the net present value of RE-investments in an uncertain economic environment. We identify two profitable BOs for Swiss SMEs and three which are not profitable. Further, the article demonstrates that the profitability of such investments remains mostly positive even under economic uncertainties. Surprisingly the profitability does not change significantly if the SME receives a subsidy or not. The support instrument of the Swiss Government has not a ponderous impact on the decision to invest in RE-technologies or not. Therefore, the article emphasizes the importance of including SME in the Swiss attempt to decentralize the energy market.

Analysis of the Stakeholder Engagement in the Deployment of Renewables and Smart Grid Technologies

The implementation of higher shares of renewables in a global energy mix has to be accompanied by simultaneous deployment of enabling smart grid technologies （SGTs）. This combination will inevitably lead to a revolutionary change in a conventional energy system, particularly, the shifting role of consumers to prosnmers. But resistance may arise from such a dramatic shift, since it is associated with high uncertainty in conjunction with increasing responsibilities of all stakeholders, the urgent need of effective control, and the development of a process. To ensure the positive influence, coherent actions of all players, and appropriate treatment of the spots of resistance, the analysis of the interplay between key stakeholders has been done. The paper introduces the framework for stakeholders＇ analysis, applies it on the European Union （EU） example, and provides recommendations to reduce the resistance of SGTs deployment.

Influence of Taxation on Supply and Demand in Tomorrow's Crowd Energy Paradigm

The emergence of the energy self-sufficient home presents a new role for government taxation. Policymakers now face the challenge of reflecting this technological change in their decision-making and must assume a greater level of engagement. This paper proposes a number of original fiscal concepts for policymakers to implement in the support of micro-grid development. These are designed to optimise a sustainable transition away from the centralised energy system whilst creating shared value among stakeholders throughout the value chain. Concepts are based on residential micro-grid schemata in Switzerland and are applicable in other countries.

Impact of Business Practices on Individual Energy Consumption

Changing behaviours and attitudes towards more sustainable individual energy consum- ption is a difficult topic to address. After identifying the most recurrent factors influencing bad energy consum- ption-society＇s environmental short- sightedness, a lack of individual responsibility and a tendency to put responsibility upon firms, institutions, and governments, the authors evaluated the effect business practices can have on individual behaviour. By qualifying as highly credible sources of information, positioning themselves as examples to follow and providing its employees with the necessary smart, innovative technology, business communities can have a major impact on changing individual behaviours towards more sustainable energy consumption.

Changing Energy Consumption Behaviour: Individuals' Responsibility and Government Role

Renewable energy is clearly a very important topic nowadays. The risk and the damage that could be caused by conventional energy resources cannot be hidden. There is an enormous need that people start formulating a better attitude towards renewable energy and change their consumption behaviour. Otherwise, the future of environment and the coming generations is defiantly not going to be promising. This paper will discuss the importance of sustainable energy and how the energy related behaviour is created. It will present a framework to influence the current behaviour and push it to be more green oriented. It is also important to know till what limit are governments responsible in this change, and what are the tools that they have to push towards green direction.

Blockchain Energy: Blockchain in Future Energy Systems

The ongoing,in-depth transformation of the electricity sector towards increased use of alternative,renewable energy sources extends beyond a simple decentralisation drive in the electricity market.The transformation process is characterised by the interplay of old and new technologies from the energy sector as well as structural coupling with other sectors,such as the information and communications technology(ICT),enabling the technology transfer as well as market entry by information technology(IT)actors.Blockchain-based technologies have the potential to play a key role in this transition by offering decentralised interfaces and systems as well as an alternative approach to the current organisation form of the energy market.This paper discusses the applicability and prospects for blockchain-based technologies in the energy sector,which are described using the term“blockchain energy”.For the purposes of this study,blockchain energy encompasses all socio-technical and organisational configurations in the energy sector based on the utilisation of the blockchain principle for energy trading,information storage,and/or increased transparency of energy flows and energy services.In the following chapters,the authors present and discuss the current transformation in the electricity market,followed by a review of the different utilisation possibilities for blockchain technologies in the energy sector and a discussion of the barriers and potential for blockchain energy using a transition studies perspective.Finally,the opportunities and risks of blockchain energy are discussed.

Human Aspects of Smart Technologies'Security:The Role of Human Failure

Security of smart technologies like smart grids and crowd energy systems cannot rely only on technical solutions, humans play a significant role in failure, security culture, information security, cyber security, trust and sharing, and perceptions and concern. This paper investigates security issues in smart technologies and the related role of human failure, whether it is intentional or unintentional.Methods that help reducing this failure are discussed. A human oriented framework for failure reduction is presented in order to enhance security.

Investigating Energy Prosumer Behaviour in Crowd Energy Using an Interactive Model/Diorama

Smart living labs such as the one located in Fribourg(Switzerland) focus on improving wellbeing and furthering knowledge related to building the district of the future on a technical and social level. Therefore, smart living labs represent an experimental platform/space where sustainable production and consumption strategies can be tested in a protected environment. A significant change in the socioeconomic production and consumption sphere can be expected by the rise of the so-called energy prosumer. Accordingly, this article presents an interactive model for the experimental investigation of energy prosumer behavior. In this context, two potential experiments on investment and trade decisions are briefly outlined. Since(behavioral and economic) experiments are usually conducted under controlled conditions in experimental labs involving mainly undergraduate students, the presented interactive model is flexible and mobile, providing the advantage to conduct experiments nearly everywhere involving everyday citizens.

Crowd Energy Management: New Paradigm for Electricity Market

The traditionally centralized approach of electricity networks is progressively undergoing a shift towards a decentralized, distributed structure. The local and crowd-based principle is transforming the existing supply chain and related activities into a value network （VN）. Previous researches on crowd value network concepts focus on the activities of infrastructure and load management and neglect activities that generate collaboration. Collaboration with and within crowds particularly demands a different mindset and management of sharing values, information, benefit, and risks. Furthermore, these concepts must integrate technical, processual, and social aspects. Thus, this article proposes a holistic framework of electricity VN management for crowd energy. It redefines VN activities for infrastructure and load management while appending VN activities for social electricity handling. Additionally, the framework illustrates the interactions among these three elements and concludes with an adaption cycle for the crowd value network.

Prosumer Cooperation Behavior:Implications for Prosumer Community Design

The decentralization of the energy sector＇s infrastructure is commonly understood as an important step towards an efficient and sustainable energy system. However, technical measures only have a limited impact on the systems goals. The decentralization of decision-making, the empowerment of households and the occurrence of prosumer communities require more human-centric approaches to meet future challenges; the application of the subsidiarity principle and decentralization seems inevitable but also unclear in its implementation in an energy system, the cooperation behavior of community members gains in importance and the design of prosumer communities must overcome economic problems. This article emphasizes the human-centered challenges which go along with prosumer communities. We apply economic principles to reveal major problems which go with the shifts in energy-related decision-making towards prosumers and integrate behavioral science for prosumer community design. We highlight the importance of energy as an interpersonal construct; a view on energy which will gain in importance within a prosumer communities shaped network.

Special Section on Energy-Efficient Technologies:Crowd Energy Applications

It is no secret--the world as it is today only runs with energy; and it is also no secret that the world is faced with steadily increasing energy demands. The reduction of dependence on fossil fuels is a global goal. To achieve this goal three paths have to be considered： First, the substitution of fossil fuels with renewable energy; secondly, the increase in energy efficiency and the expansion of opportunities for energy storage; and thirdly, to find solutions to the associated socio-economic challenges.

The Crowd Energy Concept

After the Fukushima disaster, European politicians began to reassess the energy strategy for their countries. The focus is now on renewable energy sources and as a result on decentralization. The decentralized generation, storage, and of course the consumption of energy is the central point. Now with the new develop-ments under the roof of energy turnaround the way back from the centralized architecture of our energy system to a more decentralized one is predetermined. Decentralization implies the change in the role of today＇s consumers. They become energy prosumers. This is the basis for the crowd energy concept. In this position paper the crowd energy concept is introduced and necessary research fields are identified.