The work of investigating the conditions for an energy community in the Nämdö archipelago continues to take shape. During a weekend in November, researchers from Linköping University participated in a focus group session on Nämdö, organized by LiU and Sweden’s Energy Communities for the Nämdö Local Heritage Association. The purpose was, together with residents and other stakeholders, to discuss possible paths forward for a future shared energy system in the archipelago, with the goal of sharing experiences with other similar initiatives.
The research group from Linköping University – Shashini Rajaguru, Björn Johansson and Theodore Kindong – contributed data, methods and analyses to support the local process. The focus groups brought together residents of the archipelago to jointly discuss issues such as energy sharing, flexibility, power peaks and how a so-called virtual grid could function in the Nämdö area.
The long-term goal of the energy community is to enable better planning of electricity use, shared energy solutions, and cost savings for its members. The researchers’ involvement supports efforts to assess the conditions, identify challenges and clarify the remaining steps needed before an energy community can be realised.
The work is carried out in close dialogue between residents, the Nämdö Heritage Association, Sweden’s Energy Communities and other partners. The results from the focus groups will be compiled as part of the ongoing project.
