IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v137y2020ics0301421519306858.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Becoming prosumer: Revealing trading preferences and decision-making strategies in peer-to-peer energy communities

Author

Listed:
  • Hahnel, Ulf J.J.
  • Herberz, Mario
  • Pena-Bello, Alejandro
  • Parra, David
  • Brosch, Tobias

Abstract

Increasing distributed renewable energy generation renders balancing of energy supply and demand more challenging. Peer-to-peer (P2P) exchange of decentrally generated energy is a promising means to optimize renewable energy flows. While previous research has primarily focused on the technological and economic benefits of P2P energy trading, little research has investigated customer preferences in this context so far. It is thus still unclear to what extent private actors such as homeowners are actually willing to participate in P2P energy communities and if so, under which conditions. Here, we address this research gap by analyzing homeowners' trading decisions in simulated P2P electricity trading scenarios. Findings based on a sample of 301 German homeowners show that community electricity prices and state of charge of private energy storages are key determinants of homeowners’ trading behavior. We moreover identified four target groups that systematically differed in their decision-making strategies ranging from price-focused prosumers (38.9%) to classic non-trading consumers (22.6%). Our findings provide promising insights for the design of P2P communities and allow policy makers to more accurately predict risks and benefits associated with P2P projects. Finally, our findings contribute to the development of tailored policy instruments aiming to increase P2P trading in decentralized energy communities.

Suggested Citation

  • Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Herberz, Mario & Pena-Bello, Alejandro & Parra, David & Brosch, Tobias, 2020. "Becoming prosumer: Revealing trading preferences and decision-making strategies in peer-to-peer energy communities," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:137:y:2020:i:c:s0301421519306858
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111098
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421519306858
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2019.111098?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Parra, David & Gillott, Mark & Norman, Stuart A. & Walker, Gavin S., 2015. "Optimum community energy storage system for PV energy time-shift," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 137(C), pages 576-587.
    2. Amos Tversky & Daniel Kahneman, 1991. "Loss Aversion in Riskless Choice: A Reference-Dependent Model," The Quarterly Journal of Economics, President and Fellows of Harvard College, vol. 106(4), pages 1039-1061.
    3. William A. Braff & Joshua M. Mueller & Jessika E. Trancik, 2016. "Value of storage technologies for wind and solar energy," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(10), pages 964-969, October.
    4. Ernst Fehr & Simon Gächter, 2002. "Altruistic punishment in humans," Nature, Nature, vol. 415(6868), pages 137-140, January.
    5. Daniel Kahneman & Jack L. Knetsch & Richard H. Thaler, 1991. "Anomalies: The Endowment Effect, Loss Aversion, and Status Quo Bias," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 5(1), pages 193-206, Winter.
    6. Parra, David & Patel, Martin K., 2016. "Effect of tariffs on the performance and economic benefits of PV-coupled battery systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 164(C), pages 175-187.
    7. Sousa, Tiago & Soares, Tiago & Pinson, Pierre & Moret, Fabio & Baroche, Thomas & Sorin, Etienne, 2019. "Peer-to-peer and community-based markets: A comprehensive review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 367-378.
    8. Almasalma, Hamada & Claeys, Sander & Deconinck, Geert, 2019. "Peer-to-peer-based integrated grid voltage support function for smart photovoltaic inverters," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 1037-1048.
    9. Thomas Morstyn & Niall Farrell & Sarah J. Darby & Malcolm D. McCulloch, 2018. "Using peer-to-peer energy-trading platforms to incentivize prosumers to form federated power plants," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 3(2), pages 94-101, February.
    10. Barbour, Edward & Parra, David & Awwad, Zeyad & González, Marta C., 2018. "Community energy storage: A smart choice for the smart grid?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 489-497.
    11. Lüth, Alexandra & Zepter, Jan Martin & Crespo del Granado, Pedro & Egging, Ruud, 2018. "Local electricity market designs for peer-to-peer trading: The role of battery flexibility," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 1233-1243.
    12. Korcaj, Liridon & Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Spada, Hans, 2015. "Intentions to adopt photovoltaic systems depend on homeowners' expected personal gains and behavior of peers," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 407-415.
    13. Davis, Steven J & Lewis, Nathan S. & Shaner, Matthew & Aggarwal, Sonia & Arent, Doug & Azevedo, Inês & Benson, Sally & Bradley, Thomas & Brouwer, Jack & Chiang, Yet-Ming & Clack, Christopher T.M. & Co, 2018. "Net-Zero Emissions Energy Systems," Institute of Transportation Studies, Working Paper Series qt7qv6q35r, Institute of Transportation Studies, UC Davis.
    14. Charles Adedayo Ogunbode & Yue Liu & Nicole Tausch, 2017. "The moderating role of political affiliation in the link between flooding experience and preparedness to reduce energy use," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 145(3), pages 445-458, December.
    15. Mengelkamp, Esther & Gärttner, Johannes & Rock, Kerstin & Kessler, Scott & Orsini, Lawrence & Weinhardt, Christof, 2018. "Designing microgrid energy markets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 870-880.
    16. Yael Parag & Benjamin K. Sovacool, 2016. "Electricity market design for the prosumer era," Nature Energy, Nature, vol. 1(4), pages 1-6, April.
    17. Pena-Bello, A. & Barbour, E. & Gonzalez, M.C. & Patel, M.K. & Parra, D., 2019. "Optimized PV-coupled battery systems for combining applications: Impact of battery technology and geography," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 978-990.
    18. Curtius, Hans Christoph & Hille, Stefanie Lena & Berger, Christian & Hahnel, Ulf Joachim Jonas & Wüstenhagen, Rolf, 2018. "Shotgun or snowball approach? Accelerating the diffusion of rooftop solar photovoltaics through peer effects and social norms," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 596-602.
    19. Sarasa-Maestro, Carlos J. & Dufo-López, Rodolfo & Bernal-Agustín, José L., 2013. "Photovoltaic remuneration policies in the European Union," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 317-328.
    20. Parra, David & Patel, Martin K., 2019. "The nature of combining energy storage applications for residential battery technology," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 239(C), pages 1343-1355.
    21. Long, Chao & Wu, Jianzhong & Zhou, Yue & Jenkins, Nick, 2018. "Peer-to-peer energy sharing through a two-stage aggregated battery control in a community Microgrid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 226(C), pages 261-276.
    22. Ecker, Franz & Spada, Hans & Hahnel, Ulf J.J., 2018. "Independence without control: Autarky outperforms autonomy benefits in the adoption of private energy storage systems," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 122(C), pages 214-228.
    23. Tushar, Wayes & Saha, Tapan Kumar & Yuen, Chau & Morstyn, Thomas & McCulloch, Malcolm D. & Poor, H. Vincent & Wood, Kristin L., 2019. "A motivational game-theoretic approach for peer-to-peer energy trading in the smart grid," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 243(C), pages 10-20.
    24. Balcombe, Paul & Rigby, Dan & Azapagic, Adisa, 2013. "Motivations and barriers associated with adopting microgeneration energy technologies in the UK," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 655-666.
    25. Nosratabadi, Seyyed Mostafa & Hooshmand, Rahmat-Allah & Gholipour, Eskandar, 2017. "A comprehensive review on microgrid and virtual power plant concepts employed for distributed energy resources scheduling in power systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 67(C), pages 341-363.
    26. Parra, David & Swierczynski, Maciej & Stroe, Daniel I. & Norman, Stuart.A. & Abdon, Andreas & Worlitschek, Jörg & O’Doherty, Travis & Rodrigues, Lucelia & Gillott, Mark & Zhang, Xiaojin & Bauer, Chris, 2017. "An interdisciplinary review of energy storage for communities: Challenges and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 79(C), pages 730-749.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ableitner, Liliane & Tiefenbeck, Verena & Meeuw, Arne & Wörner, Anselma & Fleisch, Elgar & Wortmann, Felix, 2020. "User behavior in a real-world peer-to-peer electricity market," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 270(C).
    2. Seyedhossein, Seyed Saeed & Moeini-Aghtaie, Moein, 2022. "Risk management framework of peer-to-peer electricity markets," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(PB).
    3. Zheng, Boshen & Wei, Wei & Chen, Yue & Wu, Qiuwei & Mei, Shengwei, 2022. "A peer-to-peer energy trading market embedded with residential shared energy storage units," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 308(C).
    4. Tushar, Wayes & Yuen, Chau & Saha, Tapan K. & Morstyn, Thomas & Chapman, Archie C. & Alam, M. Jan E. & Hanif, Sarmad & Poor, H. Vincent, 2021. "Peer-to-peer energy systems for connected communities: A review of recent advances and emerging challenges," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    5. Siripha Junlakarn & Phimsupha Kokchang & Kulyos Audomvongseree, 2022. "Drivers and Challenges of Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading Development in Thailand," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-25, February.
    6. Zhou, Yue & Wu, Jianzhong & Song, Guanyu & Long, Chao, 2020. "Framework design and optimal bidding strategy for ancillary service provision from a peer-to-peer energy trading community," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    7. Meritxell Domènech Monfort & César De Jesús & Natapon Wanapinit & Niklas Hartmann, 2022. "A Review of Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading with Standard Terminology Proposal and a Techno-Economic Characterisation Matrix," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-29, November.
    8. Tushar, Wayes & Saha, Tapan Kumar & Yuen, Chau & Azim, M. Imran & Morstyn, Thomas & Poor, H. Vincent & Niyato, Dustin & Bean, Richard, 2020. "A coalition formation game framework for peer-to-peer energy trading," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 261(C).
    9. Parra, David & Mauger, Romain, 2022. "A new dawn for energy storage: An interdisciplinary legal and techno-economic analysis of the new EU legal framework," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    10. Guerrero, Jaysson & Gebbran, Daniel & Mhanna, Sleiman & Chapman, Archie C. & Verbič, Gregor, 2020. "Towards a transactive energy system for integration of distributed energy resources: Home energy management, distributed optimal power flow, and peer-to-peer energy trading," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 132(C).
    11. Azim, M. Imran & Tushar, Wayes & Saha, Tapan K. & Yuen, Chau & Smith, David, 2022. "Peer-to-peer kilowatt and negawatt trading: A review of challenges and recent advances in distribution networks," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    12. Hackbarth, André & Löbbe, Sabine, 2020. "Attitudes, preferences, and intentions of German households concerning participation in peer-to-peer electricity trading," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    13. Andreolli, Francesca & D'Alpaos, Chiara & Kort, Peter, 2023. "Does P2P Trading Favor Investments in PV-Battery Systems?," FEEM Working Papers 330498, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM).
    14. Karami, Mahdi & Madlener, Reinhard, 2022. "Business models for peer-to-peer energy trading in Germany based on households’ beliefs and preferences," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 306(PB).
    15. Francesca Andreolli & Chiara D'Alpaos & Peter Kort, 2023. "Does P2P Trading Favor Investments in PV-Battery Systems?," Working Papers 2023.02, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei.
    16. Azim, M. Imran & Tushar, Wayes & Saha, Tapan K., 2020. "Investigating the impact of P2P trading on power losses in grid-connected networks with prosumers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(C).
    17. López, Iraide & Goitia-Zabaleta, Nerea & Milo, Aitor & Gómez-Cornejo, Julen & Aranzabal, Itxaso & Gaztañaga, Haizea & Fernandez, Elvira, 2024. "European energy communities: Characteristics, trends, business models and legal framework," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    18. Sophie Adams & Donal Brown & Juan Pablo Cárdenas Álvarez & Ruzanna Chitchyan & Michael J. Fell & Ulf J. J. Hahnel & Kristina Hojckova & Charlotte Johnson & Lurian Klein & Mehdi Montakhabi & Kelvin Say, 2021. "Social and Economic Value in Emerging Decentralized Energy Business Models: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-29, November.
    19. Scheller, Fabian & Burkhardt, Robert & Schwarzeit, Robert & McKenna, Russell & Bruckner, Thomas, 2020. "Competition between simultaneous demand-side flexibility options: the case of community electricity storage systems," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    20. Neves, Diana & Scott, Ian & Silva, Carlos A., 2020. "Peer-to-peer energy trading potential: An assessment for the residential sector under different technology and tariff availabilities," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:137:y:2020:i:c:s0301421519306858. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.