It is important to highlight that none of the existing or completed European projects or studies so far has conducted a comprehensive multi-criteria business model analyses for energy aggregators on RES, storage and DSM technologies integration into the electricity systems as it was done in the BestRES project.
The expected results until the end of the project were those one related to the implementation of improved business models and the elaboration of recommendations for the replication of improved business models.
Three main potential impacts have been identified for the BestRES project:
• Increasing share of renewable electricity in the final energy consumption
• Better policy, regulatory, market framework, financing frameworks on regional and local level
• Increase the public acceptance of renewables
Increasing the share of renewable electricity in the final energy consumption
This expected impact was translated in a market and technical dimension: 8 aggregation Business Models were implemented in 6 different European Member States. 5 business models have reached the break-even point as monitored and evaluated by the consortium. The amount of renewable energy has been correlated with the portfolio size aggregated during the implementation trial. For 4 business models the aggregation reached 5 MW. Analysis of applicability and degree of replication of business models to other market areas was carried out.
Better policy, regulatory, market framework, financing frameworks on regional and local level
BestRES supported capacity building and facilitate deployment of improved business models and innovative financial schemes for aggregation, which mobilised revenue streams to renewable energy, flexible demand, storage, and other technologies.
The project included real-life implementation of new aggregation business models. The detailed preparation and evaluation included analysis of how the business model would work or need to adapt to meet the requirements and tap revenue opportunities that come along with future market design changes in line with the EU target model. The result of the implementation and analysis were used as base for the development of recommendations and concrete proposals for local, regional and EU-wide policy and regulatory frameworks that support the replication of business models at the regional and local level or to other market regions. To ensure that targeted recommendations are practical and feasible, they have been developed alongside key stakeholders such as TSOs, DSOs, regulators, market platform operators and aggregators closely involved in the project. The goal of the recommendations was to remove barriers that hinder smaller aggregators seeking to enter the electricity market.
Addressing the needs for environmental impact assessments and public acceptance
Further market integration of RES-E pushed by the new business models developed within the BestRES project will significantly increased public and industry acceptance of renewables. The technical, social, and environmental benefits of aggregation have been demonstrated through Life- Cycle Analysis carried out within the project. In this way the benefits of aggregation have been explained to different stakeholder groups, such as policymakers, regulators, system operators and the general public.
