Demonstrating the potential of building strong brands in the energy sector, this book explores the challenges of shifting the perception of energy from a commodity business into a consumer brand. Energy suppliers are increasingly being met with skepticism, indicating the need for a greater focus on marketing and branding in the energy industry. The author examines both perspectives of energy as a commodity business and a consumer brand, as well as the perception of energy consumers across Europe. Topics discussed include green energy, the liberalisation of the electricity industry, and the relationship between consumers and executives in the energy market. One of the first of its kind, this book offers a unique and innovative study of the development of branding in the energy industry, and sheds light on future marketing strategies.

The updated 5th edition of Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings identifies the most energy-efficient home appliances by brand name and model number. Reader-friendly and packed with illustrations, this handbook helps any homeowner save energy and money. Chapters include: -- energy use and the environment -- insulating and sealing air leaks -- new window options -- space heating -- cooling and air conditioning -- water heating -- refrigeration -- lighting...and much more This book is as compact and efficient as its subject matter. Its 274 pages are crammed with money-saving information. A directory of manufacturers helps the reader access purchase information on recommended appliances.

It is widely assumed that our consumer society can move from using fossil fuels to using renewable energy sources while maintaining the high levels of energy use to which we have become accustomed. This book details the reasons why this almost unquestioned assumption is seriously mistaken. It challenges fundamental assumptions and stimulates the discussion about our common future in a way that will be of interest to professionals and lay-readers alike.

Consumer (co-)ownership in renewable energy (RE) is essential to the overall success of Energy Transition. In June 2018, the European Union agreed on a corresponding enabling framework as part of a recast of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II). The transposition of these comprehensive rules – in particular those on local RE communities – requires developing, implementing and rolling out business models that broaden the capital participation of consumers. The challenge is to include municipalities and/or commercial investors like SMEs and advance to economies of scale while retaining the benefits of individual consumer participation. This book is addressed to energy consumers in local communities, their municipalities and to the policy makers who represent them. Additionally, non-EU countries, in particular those where rural areas have limited access to energy, e.g. in Asia, Africa and Latin America, may be interested in the benefits of consumer ownership. While demand for energy in developing countries is growing, access to energy is crucial for improving the quality of life. The editor of this book presents a new model of consumer ownership in RE for both the EU and countries worldwide. Part One describes the rationale for consumer ownership in RE with regard to social, organizational, legal and financial conditions. Part Two discusses the issue of financing RE and introduces a new financing technique, the Consumer Stock Ownership Plan (CSOP), comparing it to traditional models. Part Three provides 18 country studies from Europe, North America, South America and Asia, organized so as to enable a cross-country comparison of policy approaches and feasibility. Policy recommendations are based on the results of this survey. Part Four summarizes, compares the best practice cases, presents a cost-benefit analysis of “prosumage” and against this background evaluates the impact on future policy.

This book identifies the challenges faced by large electricity consumers when they use several sources to procure their energy. The huge penetration of distributed energy resources and the intermittent nature of renewables can put the operations of the large electricity consumer at risk. The book discusses the different types of energy sources including the pool market, bilateral contracts, electrical vehicles, energy storage systems, and demand response programs in detail and presents solutions for robust and risk based scheduling. The author provides models for determining and considering uncertainties and optimal bidding strategies. The book is useful to engineers and students involved in the integration of various energy types as well as those working in state and federal governmental organizations who regulate different aspects of electricity market operation and planning. Presents solutions for robust and risk based scheduling; Discusses the operation and planning of energy storage systems; Presents the most-up-to-date technological approaches to energy integration.

Polygeneration with Polystorage: For Energy and Chemicals addresses the problem of both traditional and dispersed generation with a broad, multidisciplinary perspective. As the first book to thoroughly focus on the topic of polygeneration, users will find the problem presented from different scientific and technical domains down to both macro and micro levels. Detailed analyses and state-of-the-art developments in specific fields are included, focusing on storage in conventional energy supply chains and demand-side renewable polygeneration systems, management advice and the necessary market mechanisms needed to support them. This reference is useful for academics and professionals in conventional and unconventional energy systems. Includes an outlined framework towards polygeneration and polystorage down to both micro and macro levels Contains fluid and continuous chapters that provide detailed analysis and a review of the state-of-the-art developments in specific fields Addresses the wider global view of research advancement and potential in the role of polygeneration and polystorage in the move toward sustainability

How do ordinary people access justice? This book offers a novel socio-legal approach to access to justice, alternative dispute resolution, vulnerability and energy poverty. It poses an access to justice challenge and rethinks it through a lens that accommodates all affected people, especially those who are currently falling through the system. It raises broader questions about alternative dispute resolution, the need for reform to include more collective approaches, a stronger recognition of the needs of vulnerable people, and a stronger emphasis on delivering social justice. The authors use energy poverty as a site of vulnerability and examine the barriers to justice facing this excluded group. The book assembles the findings of an interdisciplinary research project studying access to justice and its barriers in the UK, Italy, France, Bulgaria and Spain (Catalonia). In-depth interviews with regulators, ombuds, energy companies, third-sector organisations and vulnerable people provide a rich dataset through which to understand the phenomenon. The book provides theoretical and empirical insights which shed new light on these issues and sets out new directions of inquiry for research, policy and practice. It will be of interest to researchers, students and policymakers working on access to justice, consumer vulnerability, energy poverty, and the complex intersection between these fields. The book includes contributions by Cosmo Graham (UK), Sarah Supino and Benedetta Voltaggio (Italy), Marine Cornelis (France), Anais Varo and Enric Bartlett (Catalonia) and Teodora Peneva (Bulgaria).

This report analyses international case studies of innovative business models and regulatory arrangements and provides recommendations for a truly smart energy system. “Active consumers who have access to distributed energy resources, such as solar photovoltaics, storage, electric vehicles and heating appliances will play a crucial role in the challenging transition to a low carbon energy system", explains Monica Giulietti, one of the report’s authors. For fairer prices: use tariffs based on capacity rather than on volume The current network tariff regime is not optimal for a smart energy system. Researchers recommend that tariffs be more directly linked to costs. A more advanced tariff structure is feasible in a smart electricity network: tariffs can be dependent on time and location and adapt to local network congestion. “A shift towards tariffs based on capacity will also reduce the subsidisation of the energy system by poorer consumers to the richer ones, thereby improving the fairness of the tariff structure”, says Bert Willems, co-author of the report. The DSO-TSO interaction models are to be enhanced The report highlights different proposals for DSO-TSO interactions that allow the trade of flexible services provided by distributed energy resources under different regulatory and market contexts, in the United Kingdom, Australia, New York and Europe. “While we’ve observed that in all cases an expansion of the DSO’s roles, capabilities and coordination with the TSO is required, our analysis also shows that most jurisdictions have not yet identified their preferred organisational set-up. The European Commission should systematically take into account the differences of Member States, such as the number, size and independence of DSOs, in future studies or impact assessments”, says Karim Anaya, co-author of the study. Both price and non-price factors are required for consumers to engage Bringing together smart meter technology, blockchain and apps can help consumers to take part in energy transactions by informing them about the advantages provided by distributed energy resources at a given time. However, these technologies can only help if the costs for consumers are low. Otherwise, non-price factors such as climate activism or environmental preferences will be the sole drivers for consumers to participate in this system. Although financial benefits only cannot motivate consumers’ engagement in a complex system, they are significant signals. And we need strong signals if we want consumers to modify longstanding habits. Going off-grid: the risk of death spiral The authors warn that, in the long run, when the costs of storage and local generation are expected to drop, local energy communities might decide to disconnect from the distribution network and operate on a stand-alone basis. The cost of the distribution network will then have to be covered by the remaining network users who, as a result, will see their energy bills increase. This could lead to a “death spiral” where more customers leave the distribution network (though unlikely in northern Europe), making these obsolete. Networks would go bankrupt and only small island grids would remain. “Smart consumers are highly dependent on the ecosystem they are operating in. We can learn from international experiences that Europe needs to develop innovative regulatory models and be ready to test new institutional schemes that involve consumers to support the energy transition. The work ahead goes beyond monitoring what the Clean Energy Package can deliver, we have to anticipate new trends and take action to give more clarity to what DSOs and TSOs can do together and avoid new bottlenecks”, concludes Chloé Le Coq.