Local Energy Communities
Insights from Kirsten Wilkeshuis
In the framework of the FSR Policy Advisory Council, the FSR Lights on Women team interviewed Kirsten Wilkeshuis, Acting Director at Netbeheer Nederland.
Kirsten, what do you think about the proposal in the Clean Energy Package on Local Energy Communities?
It’s an important step towards a more decentralized energy system. Consumers that want to take up an active role in meeting their own energy needs should be able to do so. The Commission is right in making it obligatory since otherwise it will not be adopted by most Member States. This doesn’t mean that this concept as set out in the Commission proposal is without its complexities and concerns. Some things should be clarified.
Which are, according to you, the positive and negative consequences of this proposal on the European energy system? What do you think should or could be improved?
The benefits are:
1. Bringing in tune local energy production and consumption may save costs for reinforcing the grid,
2. This type of consumer involvement can help bring support for the changes energy transition will bring, which it needs and
3. The phenomenon of local energy communities can help local governments to start projects on their scale.
On the other hand, with Local Energy Communities a new and hybrid actor is introduced in this already complex and carefully designed unbundled energy system.
Since local energy communities are specifically allowed to own and operate grids questions arise such as:
- is there a fair division of costs and benefits between LEC’s and other consumers?
- will it actually save grid costs, and
- what happens (worst case scenario) if a LEC falls apart and the DSO is expected to take over the possibly neglected grid?
Are there any specific examples of Local Energy Communities in the Netherlands?
In the Netherlands there is a local energy community that consists of 46 floating houses, just to the north of Amsterdam. The houses have circular systems, solar panels and heat pumps. They have one connection to the DSO grid of the DSO and they own and operate the grid from that point to the houses themselves.
Thanks for the insights, Kirsten! Can you tell us more… Why the energy sector? Can you tell us about the journey into your field?
I’ve written my PhD thesis on safeguarding public values in utility sectors from a legal perspective. From the start one of those sectors, the electricity sector, was the most interesting. I think thanks to its complexity and rapid fundamental changes in the recent years it keeps pulling me in.
Who has been the most influential mentor throughout your career?
My most influential mentor is my current colleague and director of Netbeheer Nederland. André Jurjus has given me freedom to develop my abilities. These recent years I really felt encouraged to step up and voice my thoughts on issues.
What would you consider a major achievement of your career?
Becoming acting director for Netbeheer Nederland, where I am responsible for strategy and public affairs. Netbeheer Nederland is an association of Dutch DSO’s and TSO’s which represents its members to national and international governments.
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