International Community Energy Living Labs
Project overview
This research aims to create practical solutions for energy communities by examining various international living labs. Drawing insights from real-world cases, the International Community Energy Living Labs (ICELL) research project aspires to develop a systematic screening method that can be applied broadly to design fossil-free energy systems.
This project addresses the technical, behavioral, regulatory and legal challenges of developing energy communities. With the community as a key stakeholder, it prioritizes attainable zero-emission strategies and energy justice.
Key project details
| Principal investigator | Ursula Eicker, professor, Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, and Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Smart, Sustainable and Resilient Cities and Communities, Concordia University |
Co-principal investigators |
Yann-Gaël Guéhéneuc, professor, Computer Science, Concordia University; Ivan Kantor, assistant professor, Chemical and Materials Engineering, Concordia University; Mohamed Ouf, assistant professor, Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University; Luiz Lopes, professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University; Aphrodite Salas, associate professor, Journalism, Concordia University; Caroline Hachem-Vermette, associate professor, Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University; Chadi Assi, professor, Institute for Information Systems Engineering, and Tier II Concordia Research Chair, Concordia University; Mohsen Ghafouri, assistant professor, Institute for Information Systems Engineering, Concordia University |
Research collaborators |
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| Non-academic partners | Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek, IREC Renewable Energy Institute Barcelona, National Research Council Canada, CanmetENERGY, Gaia Amazonas, Ocean Renewable Power Company, Sagkeeng First Nation. |
| Academic Partners | City University of New York, University of Cape Town, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions, Ben Gurion University, KTH Stockholm. |
| Research Keywords | Community energy networks, living labs, transactive energy, stakeholder engagement, cogenerative journalism, social innovation, co-creation, interdisciplinary research |
| Budget | Cash: $383,000 In-Kind: $583,000 |
Research focus
Living lab methodology
Deploying the Living Lab methodology for this study ensures that input from all stakeholders is gathered throughout the process, fostering innovation and the creation of new products and services that align with sustainable, achievable and desirable solutions. This approach will consider both technical and non-technical aspects, making it adaptable to different situations.
International collaboration
This project will serve as a living example of zero-emission community development, showcasing the feasibility and effectiveness of sustainable energy solutions. The ICELL seeks to learn from successful global community energy projects to scale innovative solutions, foster green jobs and start-ups in Canada, USA, Netherlands, Spain, Israel, Sweden, South Africa and Colombia. This knowledge will be used to to create an international knowledge network of Community Energy living labs, that will showcase and disseminate decarbonization solutions
Interactive feedback
Interactive feedback is crucial for enhancing the way diverse communities handle energy use. All research partners in this project will contribute to the Community Energy Living Labs, fostering the exchange of experiences and ideas. The objective is to enhance our policies and disseminate successful strategies, ultimately making energy management more effective for everyone.
Non-academic partners
Thank you to our non-academic partners for your support and trust.
