Energy Communities in Germay and EU: a comparative analysis of the regulatory framework

Research topic/area

Social science topics, and energy

Type of thesis

Bachelor / Master

Start time

01.12.2024

Application deadline

31.12.2024

Duration of the thesis

3 to 6 months, to start immediately, English required

Description

Background
The energy transition in Europe is characterized by a dense ecosystem of players and
varying national policies. While it is suggested to focus on moving away from a shortterm
crisis management approach (IDDRI 2023), a medium-term resilience-building
approach yet needs to be defined. For instance, the effort should go towards
increasing investments in energy efficiency and fostering sustainable behaviour
around energy use. However, forms of energy production, energetic renovation of the
existing housing stock, grid infrastructures, and energy use patterns are all decisions
that are inevitably influenced through the policy context! The constitution of energy
communities is a recent phenomenon that allows to generate energy within the
building complex. Because it is based on renewable energy systems used for primarily
self-consumption, it can incentivize demand flexibility according to the time of day the
energy is produced. Flexibility in energy demand can take the form of shifts, reduction
or substitution which can help manage loads and alleviate pressures on the local grid.
However, the variability in production and consumption times can also lead to gaps
where excess energy is fed into or consumed from the grid. Therefore, we need to
understand how the regulatory and administrative framework is constructed in
Germany today and what evolutions are likely to happen in the future, that incentivize
and stir these processes within energy communities.
Objectives of the thesis
The goal of this project is to conduct a systematic literature review that summarizes
the regulatory situation around energy communities in Germany and neighbouring
European countries. Specifically, by pooling upon the findings from existing studies, a
clear picture for Germany is to be drawn. Moreover, by drawing upon recent
developments in neighbouring countries, an overview on the European context will
shed light on the likely evolutions to come. In particular, different forms of Energy
communities, load profiles and incentive types need to be considered for the analysis.

Requirement

Requirements for students

• Requirements
• ▪ Interest in social science topics (regulation, user behavior) and energy (e.g. load
• management)
• ▪ Willingness to work independently
• ▪ Ideally existing skills synthesizing literature and using citation tools (e.g. Endnote)

Faculty departments

• Humanities & social sciences
  Other fields of study
• Engineering sciences
  Energy Engineering and Management
• Natural sciences and Technology
  Other fields of study
• Economic & law sciences
  Business management

Supervision

Title, first name, last name

Dr. Kristin Limbach

Organizational unit

IIP

Email address

kristin.limbach@kit.edu

Link to personal homepage/personal page

Website

Application via email

Application documents

• Cover letter
• Grade transcript

E-Mail Address for application
Senden Sie die oben genannten Bewerbungsunterlagen bitte per Mail an kristin.limbach@kit.edu


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