Data access and effective social engagement: a pathway to resilient and consumer-activated communities

Social engagement and data sharing have a critical role in transitioning to sustainable energy systems. Leveraging the work developed in the ENPOWER and Crete Valley projects, this research focuses on the Dingle Peninsula, where smart meter data is used to characterize energy behaviour and identify opportunities for load shifting and optimizing renewable energy use. Firstly, two interlinked Data-Sharing Workshops were conducted with local representatives and community members. Participants highlighted the importance of financial benefits, community independence from major energy providers, and contributions to the local sustainability. Concerns about data handling and privacy were also raised. Secondly, towards the energy behaviour characterization of the local community, historical active power measurements from 49 household smart meters, covering various periods between 2019 and 2022, were analysed. Households were categorized based on their behind-the-meter assets. Also, Monte Carlo simulations were applied to model electric vehicle (EV) charging patterns, accounting for variability and uncertainty, by using the data collected through the EV infrastructure available in Dingle.