scholarly journals Platforms in Power: Householder Perspectives on the Social, Environmental and Economic Challenges of Energy Platforms

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 692 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robin Smale ◽  
Sanneke Kloppenburg

New business models and digital infrastructures, in the form of ‘energy platforms’, are emerging as part of a transition towards decarbonised, decentralised, and digitised energy systems. These energy platforms offer new ways for householders to trade or exchange energy with other households or with energy system actors, but also bring along challenges. This paper examines how householders engage with potential environmental, social, and economic opportunities and risks of energy platforms. We convened two serious-game style workshops in which Dutch frontrunner householders assumed the role of platform members and were challenged to deliberate about different scenarios and issues. The workshop results, while explorative in nature, are indicative of a willingness to pursue energy system integration rather than autarky or grid defection. The idea of energy platforms as vehicles for energy justice appealed less to the householders, although the participants were moderately interested in sharing surplus renewable energy. Finally, environmental motivations were of key importance in householders’ evaluation of different platform types. This shows that in the role of energy platform members, householders can engage with both the community and the grid in new and different ways, leading to a diversity of possible outcomes for householder engagement.

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 17-20
Author(s):  
Farxod Tursunov ◽  

The article discusses the role of the digital economy in the development of the country, how it becomes the basis of the economy, new business models and management systems. The opinion of scientistsis analyzed, a definition of a digital enterprise is given


Water Policy ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 559-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charlotta Windahl

An increasing number of companies in the capital goods industry are turning towards new strategies where the focus is to add value for customers by providing integrated solutions (combining products and services), instead of selling components, spare parts and support services. These new strategies represent moves in the value chain and create a need for new business models as well as new competencies. In this paper, the fairly new concept of integrated solutions is explored in the context of a privatised industry. The findings are based on empirical case studies carried out at two companies supplying products and services to the UK wastewater industry. In the UK, both water companies and their suppliers are influenced by economic and environmental regulations, an increased focus on cost, and outsourcing. On one hand, the two manufacturers have increased their competence with respect to system integration and operational services – competencies for supplying integrated solutions. On the other hand, a fragmented and vertically structured market with a multitude of different actors increases the distance between the water companies and the manufacturers. In addition, the division of the industry into a capital and operational side complicates the coordination between new sales and services.


A discussion and analysis of the key aspects emerging during the course of the research comprise the basis of this chapter. It addresses, inter alia, the effect of the parallel importing debate on authors’ rights, the issue of publishing contracts, the idea of a “heavenly library” and copyright protection on the Internet, including a discussion on how existing territorial copyright structures may be affected by electronic publishing. This chapter also considers the Google initiatives and possible new business models for authors. The emerging theme of resale royalties for authors is examined and compared with the Resale Royalty Right for Visual Artists Act 2009. In conclusion, observations are made on the role of the author in the changing publishing landscape, situating the author as member of the “author sphere” in the context of the public sphere.


2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Sofia Lewis Lopes ◽  
Elizabeth Duarte ◽  
Rita Fragoso

The exponential population growth will put great pressure on natural resources, agriculture, energy systems and waste production. New business models and innovative technological approaches are necessary to tackle these challenges and achieve the energy transition targets set by the European Commission. Renewable energy technologies and processes such as solar photovoltaic, solar thermal and anaerobic co-digestion have become a subject of interest and research as a solution that could be fully implemented in industries and solve several environmental and economic problems. This paper discusses the possibility of integrating and complement these technologies to maximize renewable energy production and circularity. The review was performed with a funnel approach aiming to analyze broad to specific subjects. Beginning with a literature review on the various definitions of circular economy, bioeconomy, and circular bioeconomy, ultimately proposing a single definition according to an industrial and academic scope combination, followed by a systematization and assessment of data and literature regarding energy systems present state and projections. The next phase was to assess data and literature of the fruit and vegetable processing industry from an energy consumption and biowaste production perspective to consequently discussing technologies that could help manage problems identified throughout this review. This paper culminates in propounding an Integrated Renewable Energy System conceptual model that promotes energy and waste circularity, envisioning how industries could be designed or redesigned in the future, coupled with a circular bioeconomy business model.


2017 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 13-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Taylor C. Nelms ◽  
Bill Maurer ◽  
Lana Swartz ◽  
Scott Mainwaring

The payments industry – the business of transferring value through public and corporate infrastructures – is undergoing rapid transformation. New business models and regulatory environments disrupt more traditional fee-based strategies, and new entrants seek to displace legacy players by leveraging new mobile platforms and new sources of data. In this increasingly diversified industry landscape, start-ups and established players are attempting to embed payment in ‘social’ experience through novel technologies of accounting for trust. This imagination of the social, however, is being materialized in gated platforms for payment, accounting, and exchange. This paper explores the ambiguous politics of such experiments, specifically those, like Bitcoin or the on-demand sharing economy, that delineate an economic imaginary of ‘just us’ – a closed and closely guarded community of peers operating under the illusion that there are no mediating institutions undergirding that community. This provokes questions about the intersection of payment and publics. Payment innovators’ attenuated understanding of the social may, we suggest, evacuate the nitty-gritty of politics.


2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 510-513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhruv Grewal ◽  
Anne L. Roggeveen ◽  
Larry D. Compeau ◽  
Michael Levy

Author(s):  
Christian Nasulea ◽  
Diana Florentina Nasulea ◽  
Stelian Mihai Mic

Abstract Every year seems to bring about new technologies that radically change the way we do things. New innovative business models come to life, that change the way the world works so much that a shift of mindset is required if we are to keep up. These days, the largest transport company in the world owns no cars, the largest accommodation provider owns no real estate, the largest retailer by value has no inventory of its own, and the most popular media owner creates no content. But what about the role of regulation in this brave new world? We take a look at the rivals, taxi companies and private hire transport companies (in particular Uber), to assess the need for regulation and the impact of regulation on these two contenders. Our research examines the effects of said regulation on service quality and safety, correlated with consumer opinion data. The impact of non-regulatory incentives on the two seemingly-opposed business models is discussed, thus making the logical case for increased deregulation of both taxis and private hire companies. Opening the way to innovative companies and innovative new business models, allowing them to change the world is our gateway to growth, prosperity and sustainability.


Author(s):  
Marta Massi ◽  
Caterina Francesca Ottobrini

This chapter reviews the literature on green marketing from the sustainable marketing phase to the latest paradigm of green marketing based on the concept of consumer empowerment and customer-initiated innovation process. In particular, the authors delve into the evolution of green marketing in order to highlight critical contrasts including product-based vs. service-based green marketing approach; top-down (business-initiated) vs. bottom-up (customer-initiated) green-based innovation; physical vs. online distribution of green products/services; positioning and advertising vs. brand co-creation; passive vs. active/empowered role of consumers and focus on customers vs. focus on multiple stakeholders. This chapter illustrates, through a series of cases and consumer insights, the contradictions, and controversies of green marketing. The chapter shows how customer participation and value co-creation, have changed the way green products are consumed and developed, and have forced organizations to adopt completely new business models.


Author(s):  
Ewa Barbara Wójcik ◽  
Katarzyna Olejko

The increasingly important role of sustainability issues and CSR in business activity has been widely recognized. In order to promote socially responsible decisions, changes in the macro- and micro-environment should be examined. The study offers insight into different aspects of CSR and defines those whose importance is growing, discusses trends, reasons for the state of affairs, and formulates conclusions of possible effects. The focus is on ethical values, in particular trust, and their changing perception which may lead to new business models strengthening and further development.


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