The co-evolutionary relationship between Energy Service Companies and the UK energy system: Implications for a low-carbon transition
The co-evolutionary relationship between Energy Service Companies and the UK energy system: Implications for a low-carbon transition
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DOI：
10.1016/j.enpol.2013.06.009
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发表时间：
2013-10
期刊：
影响因子：
9
通讯作者：
M. Hannon;T. Foxon;W. Gale
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
M. Hannon;T. Foxon;W. Gale
能源服务公司（ESCO）的商业模式旨在通过能源需求管理和/或可持续供应措施，以更低的成本和更少的碳排放来满足消费者的能源需求，从而奖励企业。相比之下，现有能源公用事业公司（EUCo）模式的收入与主要来自化石燃料的能源单位的销售相结合。后者目前在英国占主导地位。本文探讨两个问题。首先，为什么ESCO模式传统上仅限于利基应用？第二，ESCO模式在向低碳英国能源系统过渡中可能发挥什么作用？为了回答这些问题，本文研究了ESCO模型的核心特征，相对于EUCo模型。然后，本文探讨了ESCos如何与能源系统的各个方面（即生态系统，机构，用户实践，技术和商业模式）共同发展，以深入了解ESCos如何帮助塑造未来的英国能源系统。我们认为，英国能源系统内的制度和技术变革可能会导致一个更有利的选择环境ESCos，从而使ESCo模型扩散的EUCo模型的费用。
The Energy Service Company (ESCo) business model is designed to reward businesses by satisfying consumers’ energy needs at less cost and with fewer carbon emissions via energy demand management and/or sustainable supply measures. In contrast, the revenue of the incumbent Energy Utility Company (EUCo) model is coupled with the sale of units of energy, which are predominantly sourced from fossil fuels. The latter is currently dominant in the UK. This paper addresses two questions. First, why has the ESCo model traditionally been confined to niche applications? Second, what role is the ESCo model likely to play in the transition to a low-carbon UK energy system? To answer these, the paper examines the core characteristics of the ESCo model, relative to the EUCo model. The paper then examines how ESCos have co-evolved with the various dimensions of the energy system (i.e. ecosystems, institutions, user practices, technologies and business models) to provide insight into how ESCos might help to shape the future UK energy system. We suggest that institutional and technological changes within the UK energy system could result in a more favourable selection environment for ESCos, consequently enabling the ESCo model to proliferate at the expense of the EUCo model.