Which digital energy services improve energy efficiency? A multi-criteria investigation with European experts. (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Goldbach, Kristin; Rotaru, Andreea Mihaela; Reichert, Stefan; Stiff, George; Gölz, Sebastian
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 115(2018)
• Page Start: 239
• Page End: 248
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: ICT services -- Analytic hierarchy -- Market adoption -- Energy efficiency -- Digital energy services, energy platform; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2017.12.036
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: Energy providers still struggle to decide on which digital energy services can help them stay competitive and aligned with energy efficiency policy targets. This research aims to assist organisations in choosing a service by modelling the selection process along decision criteria via the Analytic Hierarchy Process. This analysis includes evaluations by surveying experts for their opinions and an assessment of objective decision factors such as technical feasibility, business potential, behavioural change and innovativeness. It was found that behavioural and business factors are most important for organisations choosing new services, indicating that there should be a stronger focus on highlighting and assessing these aspects in future research. Additionally, all ICT-based services still ranked closely to each other, demonstrating that it is neither imperative nor easy to identify a single service. It can be concluded that energy providers should adopt a wider approach by offering a digital platform of energy services. Likewise, political adjustments should be enacted in parallel which enable approaches more conducive to organisations for gaining relevant experience. Examples are establishing innovation zones and altering restrictive regulations to facilitate markets to transfer monetary incentives to customers as means to enable new ways how such services can be offered. Highlights: Experts evaluated ICT based services with multiple decision parameters. Organisations assess social and business parameters as being most important. Services are ranked closely to each other in their impact on energy efficiency. It is recommended to offer a service platform approach to offer a mix of services.