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The social factors shaping community microgrid operation.

ABSTRACT: When extreme weather events result in power blackouts, the critical electricity needs of a community can continue to be met by utilizing localized energy resources. The collective setup of these resources is referred to as a microgrid. Here, we carry out a survey to study the preferences of 1021 US residents on how the finite energy stored in a community microgrid should be rationed amongst various participating households during prolonged blackouts. Particularly, a differentiated service paradigm-where certain consumers can pay more to avail of higher energy quotas-received support from over 91.8% of respondents, despite the zero-sum nature of such rationing. We also report that respondents were receptive to selling between 42-53% of their stored energy to the microgrid should they own personal backup devices-what we call willingness-to-sell-balancing self-preservation and monetary compensation. Studying the factors influencing the responses on the fairness of differentiated service (for consumers) and willingness-to-sell (for storage owners), we identify for policymakers and businesses that an energy-as-a-service model is socially acceptable for community microgrids.

SUBMITTER: Raman G

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11291921 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The social factors shaping community microgrid operation.

Raman Gurupraanesh G Yang Yang Y Peng Jimmy Chih-Hsien JC

Nature communications 20240731 1

When extreme weather events result in power blackouts, the critical electricity needs of a community can continue to be met by utilizing localized energy resources. The collective setup of these resources is referred to as a microgrid. Here, we carry out a survey to study the preferences of 1021 US residents on how the finite energy stored in a community microgrid should be rationed amongst various participating households during prolonged blackouts. Particularly, a differentiated service paradi ...[more]

PMID: 39085291

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The social factors shaping community microgrid operation.

Publications

The social factors shaping community microgrid operation.

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