From May 20 to June 20, ELECTRA (DR-RISE partner) traveled to Thessaloniki, Athens, Patras, Ioannina, and Mytiliene, visiting energy communities and citizen-led groups to discuss DR-RISE and the solutions to be created through participatory methods.
The Greek pilot project is expanding rapidly as ELECTRA travel around the country, engaging in discussions about demand-side flexibility and the potential new services for energy communities.
The primary goal is to explore how the widespread adoption of intermittent Renewable Energy Sources (RES) impacts the energy system and the strategies they are developing to address these changes. Project Parntner emphasizes the importance of demand-side management, including the shifting of energy usage, and its implications for household energy practices.
Since energy is intangible and its usage is often a by-product of other intentional activities, it is crucial to highlight practices that can be adjusted and adapted to this smart, dynamic energy system.
DR-RISE employs co-creation as a strategy to design a more inclusive and effective demand-side management system. To this end, ELECTRA is organizing co-creation sessions with interested communities. During these sessions, they address behavioral, design, and privacy aspects, and the participants’ input is translated into requirements for the DR-RISE system.
Each pilot project faces unique challenges. In the Greek case, the primary challenge is the lack of installed smart meters, which are essential for providing historical data, facilitating the adoption of dynamic tariffs, and deploying a smart home energy management system. Another significant challenge is the unstable regulatory framework for energy communities, which discourages the creation and development of these initiatives and potential new business models.
On a positive note, there is widespread interest and strong motivation among energy community members to adopt the necessary changes for a faster transition to green energy. ELECTRA and all project parnters are looking forward to deploying our first DR-RISE systems in the fall and continuing this co-creative development process.
