Chances and directions for the development of smart energy communities in Poland based on empirical and simulation research (CHASE)

Grant no.: 2022/45/B/HS4/03805

Funding agency: NCN

Funding scheme: OPUS

Funding period: 03.2022 – 03.2027

Budget 730 780 PLN

Title in Polish: Szanse i kierunki rozwoju nowoczesnych wspólnot energetycznych w Polsce na podstawie badań empirycznych i symulacyjnych

Research team:

Principal Investigator (Kierownik):

• Anna Kowalska-Pyzalska

Investigators (Wykonawcy):

• Ewa Neska
• Maksymilian Bielecki (SWPS University)

Collaborators (Współpracownicy):

To be annouced soon

 – Ph.D. / M.Sc. / B.Sc. student

Aims and scope:

Aim: to analyze incentives and social barriers to participation in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in Poland and identify actions that increase willingness to participate. The project combines empirical research (qualitative + quantitative) with agent-based modeling to test how different market/government interventions could accelerate REC diffusion.

Tasks:

Main tasks / work plan:

• Desk research and ~10 expert interviews (energy/IT industry, local government & NGOs) on energy communities and P2P trading
• Nationwide survey (N≈1000 Polish prosumers) to map awareness, motivations, and relevant REC attributes.
• Follow-up (N≈200): empathy interviews (design-thinking) + discrete choice experiment to quantify preferences and trade-offs.
• Data analysis (statistical/econometric) and visualization.
• Build & calibrate an agent-based model (ABM) of REC adoption.
• Use ABM to run what-if scenarios and compare policy/market interventions (price & environmental incentives vs. information/education).

Expected impact:

The project will contribute to advancing the understanding of social, behavioral, and economic determinants of participation in Renewable Energy Communities (RECs) in Poland. By combining empirical research with agent-based modeling, the study will generate new insights into how individual and collective factors influence the adoption and diffusion of REC initiatives.

The expected scientific impact includes the development of an empirically grounded agent-based model that can serve as a decision-support tool for policymakers and energy market stakeholders, helping to test various policy interventions and market designs before their real-world implementation. The results will advance research in behavioral and energy economics, computational social science, and sustainability transitions.

From a societal and policy perspective, the project will identify effective strategies to enhance social acceptance of renewable energy solutions, inform national and regional energy transition policies, and support the design of equitable, community-driven energy models.

Furthermore, the findings will provide valuable guidance for companies and organizations involved in developing Renewable Energy Communities. Insights into consumer preferences and social acceptance will help shape more effective marketing strategies, communication approaches, and business models, supporting the market uptake and long-term sustainability of REC initiatives. In this way, the project contributes not only to academic and policy development but also to practical, industry-relevant applications that facilitate Poland’s and Europe’s transition toward a decentralized, participatory energy system.

Publications:

Peer-reviewed articles in JCR-listed journals

1. Neska, E., & Kowalska-Pyzalska, A. (2022). Conceptual design of energy market topologies for communities and their practical applications in EU: A comparison of three case studies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 169, 112921.

2.  Bielecki, M., Neska, E., & Kowalska-Pyzalska, A. (2025). “Why would I bother?” Understanding prosumer motivations and engagement in renewable energy communities: A qualitative study of Polish photovoltaic installation owners. Frontiers in Energy Research, 13, 1500038

3.  Neska, E., Bielecki, M., & Kowalska-Pyzalska, A. (2025). Bridging the implementation gap: Expert, systemic, and policy perspectives on renewable energy communities in Poland. Energy Strategy Reviews, 62, 101856.

Book chapters

1. Neska, E. (2024). Social motivators and barriers to participation in a renewable energy community in Western Europe. In Adoption of emerging information and communication technology for sustainability (pp. 323–338). CRC Press / Routledge.

Conference papers/posters

1. Neska, E., Kowalska-Pyzalska, A., & Bielecki, M. (2024). Preferred configurations of renewable energy communities: Insights from in-depth interviews. In 2024 20th International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM). IEEE.

2.  Neska, E., & Kowalska-Pyzalska, A. (2025). Social acceptance of renewable energy communities: A quantitative study on motivations, barriers and drivers among prosumers. Paper presented at the 21st International Conference on the European Energy Market (EEM25), 27-29 May 2025, Lisbon, Portugal

Forthcoming publications, submitted papers and work in progress 

We have some, but let us wait until they are published 😉