• Energy Research

Infographic included into the Proposal GRECO 787289. Full description of the infographic through the proposal. (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1466869)

Infographic included into the Proposal GRECO 787289. Full description of the infographic through the proposal. (DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.1466869)

For two years, the project GRECO has conducted a survey to analyse the opinions, doubts and experiences of researchers on the field of engineering and photovoltaic (PV) energy about Open Science (OS). We gathered 106 responses, analysed them and came up with 39 Frequently Asked Questions on Open Science. The experience of researchers from the PV field is useful for other fields too. So, this document is a Practical Guide for Researchers and tries to solve the most prevalent doubts, concerns and fears. It starts with a checklist for OS, that researchers may consider in various phases of their investigation. Then, the reader will find a Q&A section, structured in nine categories: 1) where to start, 2) open data, 3) open access, 4) open to society, 5) other open practices, 6) property, 7) resources, 8) politics and 9) metrics and incentives. There are 3 to 5 questions for each category, and the responses come from experts on the field and other researchers that have tried and applied OS in its different forms. At the end of the document there are two additional sections. One with the benefits expressed by the researchers in our survey and another that comments on the gender perspective. Following OS values, this guide went through an open peer review process and is openly available. For further comments, please contact greco@greco-project.eu.

For two years, the project GRECO has conducted a survey to analyse the opinions, doubts and experiences of researchers on the field of engineering and photovoltaic (PV) energy about Open Science (OS). We gathered 106 responses, analysed them and came up with 39 Frequently Asked Questions on Open Science. The experience of researchers from the PV field is useful for other fields too. So, this document is a Practical Guide for Researchers and tries to solve the most prevalent doubts, concerns and fears. It starts with a checklist for OS, that researchers may consider in various phases of their investigation. Then, the reader will find a Q&A section, structured in nine categories: 1) where to start, 2) open data, 3) open access, 4) open to society, 5) other open practices, 6) property, 7) resources, 8) politics and 9) metrics and incentives. There are 3 to 5 questions for each category, and the responses come from experts on the field and other researchers that have tried and applied OS in its different forms. At the end of the document there are two additional sections. One with the benefits expressed by the researchers in our survey and another that comments on the gender perspective. Following OS values, this guide went through an open peer review process and is openly available. For further comments, please contact greco@greco-project.eu.

AbstractWith the emergence of energy communities, this paper explores their operationalization as a tool with which to create large and stable citizen science and education hubs focused on energy, where citizens can have the chance of exploring a first-hand approach to the energy transition. We present the rationale behind an energy community, whose purpose is to generate systemic and transformative changes in local environments. The concept of an energy community is used to reflect the legally recognized union of citizens, which is much stronger than any associative mechanism yet without such a structure. While the latter’s actions and interests align with those of energy communities, its operation mode differs in terms of the priority assigned to each of them. The developed model has been submitted for feedback to three European university communities. The feedback received has highlighted the acceptability of the model and encouraged us to move forward with its implementation. Approximately 90% of the participants in the study would partake in this type of energy community in very diverse ways, which shows the capacity of the model for inclusiveness and universal access to energy experiences. The barriers and drivers expressed by the participants of the study were analyzed to identify the aspects that foster or prevent citizens’ participation. This approach will allow us to define a more responsible action plan when turning these models into reality.

AbstractWith the emergence of energy communities, this paper explores their operationalization as a tool with which to create large and stable citizen science and education hubs focused on energy, where citizens can have the chance of exploring a first-hand approach to the energy transition. We present the rationale behind an energy community, whose purpose is to generate systemic and transformative changes in local environments. The concept of an energy community is used to reflect the legally recognized union of citizens, which is much stronger than any associative mechanism yet without such a structure. While the latter’s actions and interests align with those of energy communities, its operation mode differs in terms of the priority assigned to each of them. The developed model has been submitted for feedback to three European university communities. The feedback received has highlighted the acceptability of the model and encouraged us to move forward with its implementation. Approximately 90% of the participants in the study would partake in this type of energy community in very diverse ways, which shows the capacity of the model for inclusiveness and universal access to energy experiences. The barriers and drivers expressed by the participants of the study were analyzed to identify the aspects that foster or prevent citizens’ participation. This approach will allow us to define a more responsible action plan when turning these models into reality.

The concept of "intermediate band solar cell" (IBSC) is, apparently, simple to grasp. However, since the idea was proposed, our understanding has improved and we feel now that we can explain better some concepts than we initially introduced. Clarifying these concepts is important, even if they are well-known for the advanced researcher, so that efforts can be driven in the right direction from start. The six pieces of this work are: Does a miniband need to be formed when the IBSC is implemented with quantum dots?; What are the problems of each of the main practical approaches that exist today? What are the simplest experimental techniques to demonstrate whether an IBSC is working as such or not? What is the issue with the absorption coefficient overlap? and Mott's transition? What the best system would be, if any?

The concept of "intermediate band solar cell" (IBSC) is, apparently, simple to grasp. However, since the idea was proposed, our understanding has improved and we feel now that we can explain better some concepts than we initially introduced. Clarifying these concepts is important, even if they are well-known for the advanced researcher, so that efforts can be driven in the right direction from start. The six pieces of this work are: Does a miniband need to be formed when the IBSC is implemented with quantum dots?; What are the problems of each of the main practical approaches that exist today? What are the simplest experimental techniques to demonstrate whether an IBSC is working as such or not? What is the issue with the absorption coefficient overlap? and Mott's transition? What the best system would be, if any?