Faculty of Science, Technology and Medicine
Faculty of Law, Economics and Finance
Faculty of Humanities, Education and Social Sciences
Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust
Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine
Luxembourg Centre for Contemporary and Digital History
Luxembourg Centre for European Law
Luxembourg Centre for Socio-Environmental Systems
The Doctoral School in Science and Engineering is happy to invite you to ANDOLFI Laura’s defence entitled
Empowering Consumers to Engage in the Energy Transition
Supervisor: Prof Gilbert FRIDGEN
The global energy transition involves integrating renewable energy sources and electrification across various sectors. Electrification, such as the adoption of electric vehicles, replaces fossil fuels and offers benefits like reduced emissions and improved energy efficiency. However, it also poses challenges, including the need for infrastructure upgrades and increased electricity demand.
Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind, provide environmental benefits but are intermittent, leading to potential grid instability. Additionally, they enable decentralized electricity production, reducing transmission losses but requiring significant investments in grid infrastructure.
Consumers are evolving from passive to active participants in power systems, exemplified by “prosumers” who generate and use their own power, engage in dynamic pricing, and participate in energy communities. This active participation can enhance grid reliability and reduce market power abuse, but integrating consumers into electricity markets presents technical, regulatory, economic, and behavioral challenges.
This cumulative thesis consists of an introductory part and six (or seven) published conference and journal papers. It explores strategies to encourage and support active participation in energy systems, leveraging technologies like Building Energy Management Systems and Home Energy Management Systems, focusing on energy communities, and utilizing financial technology through dynamic tariffs. It also emphasizes the significance of energy literacy as a key tool to help individuals better understand and engage with these systems.
By highlighting the importance of these strategies and tools, this thesis provides a roadmap for enhancing consumer participation in energy markets. This active engagement can lead to more stable and efficient power systems, reduce carbon emissions, and promote sustainable energy practices. Additionally, the emphasis on energy literacy underlines the need for educational initiatives to empower consumers, ensuring they are well-informed and capable of making decisions that benefit both themselves and the broader energy system.