Citizen Participation in Low-Carbon Energy Systems: Energy Communities and Its Impact on the Electricity Demand on Neighborhood and National Level
Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
Individual criteria:
Originality: I considered that this article is original. The core objective of this work is to investigate the qualitative and quantitative effects and implications 43 of an extensive EC implementation at the neighborhood and national levels. This goal is reached in this article.
Literature review: this section covers enough literature to support the theme in this article. It shows an appropriate range of citations. Perhaps, I would demand a little more state of the art literature, but it is ok.
Methodology: This section is appropriate for a scientific article. It describes in detail the methods and techniques for the spatial and temporal dimensions of MECs in the energy system.
Results and conclusions: The results are coherently presented. Conclusions are based on the discussion.
In general:
Quality of the communication: The content of this paper is good, concise, and comprehensive. I have found the case studies very understandable. In general, it shows good quality over the average. I found good quality in figures. I appreciate the honor to review this paper.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: 
Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 2 Report
The article concerns a very interesting and actual problem concerning, as stated in the title, the citizen participation in low-carbon energy systems and impact on the electricity demand on the neighborhood and national level. The paper shows a strong theoretical background, is well structured, concisely presenting the conducted research. The presented paper is of high quality. However, below there have been pointed out some remarks and comments, which should help the Authors clarifying some minor ambiguities introduced in the paper.
Based on the Authors’ statement in the abstract, the paper should answer the following question:
- How a high penetration of energy communities (ECs) affects the national electricity demand in the residential sector?
by investigation of four different model energy communities (different in characteristic settlement patterns - Iberian Peninsula, Norway, and Austria). The presented model optimizes the utilization of the local energy portfolio, especially small-scale batteries and photovoltaic systems. Based on the results achieved on the neighborhood level the conclusions have been drawn on the national level.
General remarks:
- Authors are advised to present the results for three analyzed regions and countries in an analogous way. I suggest presenting the electricity demand profile in City and Rural ECs in the Iberian Peninsula in the same way for the other two countries,
- Authors state that: ‘The presented model optimizes the utilization of the local energy portfolio, especially small-scale batteries and photovoltaic systems.’ The control algorithm for the energy technology portfolio of the settlement patterns presented in Appendix B should be introduced and commented in more detail.
Authors are advised to comment on achieved results from the avoided CO2 emissions point of view referenced to assumed storylines.
Comments for author File: Comments.pdf
Author Response
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Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
Reviewer 3 Report
This is a well written and exciting paper, which has raised an exciting question and tried to assess the effect of penetration of energy communities (EC) on national electricity demand in the residential sector. I have thoroughly enjoyed reviewing the paper and like to draw the attention of the authors regarding the following facts.
- The research gap and novelty issues need to be mentioned clearly. In this version of the manuscript, the novelty issues are mentioned; however, increasing the readability, it needs to be revised.
- A brief literature review may be considered in the revised version.
- The title is a bit unclear, and perhaps better re-arranged to define the Neighbourhood and National Level clearly.
- A brief discussion on the modelling part may also be considered from the layman's perspective.
- Besides, a brief background of the energy sector and socio-economic condition of the stated three European regions, namely, the Iberian Peninsula, Norway, and Austria, can be added to insight the above-mentioned regions' energy scenario.
- A detailed description of each figure will add more crystal ideas for the readers.
Author Response
Please see the attachment.
Author Response File: Author Response.pdf
