The Impact of Regulatory Frameworks on Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading and Prosumer Rewards in Energy Communities

With the increasing ubiquity of Renewable Energy Communities (RECs), peer-to-peer energy trading is gradually entering its global operational phase. In addition to existing peer-to-grid energy trading programs, several countries have developed special regulatory frameworks that reward prosumers who share the excess energy they produce within RECs that are virtually defined over the national grid. In addition, peer-to-peer energy sharing can be independently regulated within RECs established as microgrids that have their own operating structure. This study examines the impact of regulatory frameworks on peer-to-peer energy sharing and prosumer rewards in diverse RECs. Using agent-based modeling, we create social simulations for RECs where prosumer rewards are diversely regulated and then measure the success of energy sharing as financial benefits to prosumers. Results show that the removal or reduction of fuel subsidies and the adoption of net metering to reward prosumers are the most effective measures to ensure the highest rewards for prosumers. The use of batteries to store excess energy produced for later self-consumption can also be effective, especially in microgrid energy communities.