Business concepts for districts’ Energy hub systems with maximised share of renewable energy

Abstract This paper presents a set of new potential business concepts developed for districts’ smart energy solutions with maximised utilisation of renewable energy (so called Energy hub systems). The concepts are targeted for different stakeholders with varying business ideas for optimal energy services and business. The concepts are presented in the form of a cookbook – a collection of business and service model recipes that describe the key idea and needed interactions between main stakeholders. Also costs and benefits of the business models are described, as well as key performance indicators for measuring the success for the stakeholders. The concepts are developed utilising Osterwalder's business canvas approach based on stakeholders’ needs related to the energy demand and supply. The concepts are kept simple and focusing on one stakeholder at a time, thus improving significantly their clarity and enabling their further integration to energy analysis and simulation. These single business concept elements can be combined into broader and more specific business models, service offerings and business networks. Two specific example cases and one real life case area study are presented as examples. In addition, barriers for new Energy hub business and services are discussed.