Analysis of barriers and key enablers toward citizen ESS successful integration

Abstract

Enabling energy storage systems (ESS) is a potential aspect of the energy transition toward decarbonising the energy sector. Despite the ongoing effort to analyse distributed energy resources enablers and key barriers, several gaps need to be addressed in the literature on accelerating the implementation of ESS at the citizen level. As citizens are now at the heart of the energy transition, analysing and meeting their needs and securing potential engagement in the energy transition is of utmost importance. However, this presents many challenges as it is more complicated to model and assess rather than institutions, organisations, and companies. This paper analyses the key barriers and enablers of ESS for citizen empowerment through the ownership and operational aspects of ESS. It evaluates various types of ESS at the citizen level, exploring their suitability and distinct characteristics in this specific context and thoroughly examines the key challenges, bottlenecks, and essential facilitators required for ESS citizen empowerment. It adopts a qualitative, bottom-up analysis of barriers and bottlenecks, providing a holistic view of the ecosystem. This comprehensive methodology ensures readers gain a complete perspective on the challenges present throughout the entire ecosystem. Also, it reviews good practices, examines key enablers, and suggests actions and tailored recommendations for diverse stakeholders, facilitating the comprehensive deployment of ESS as an integrated entity to empower energy citizens toward achieving an efficient and smooth energy transition.