"From consumers to system actors: modelling energy communities for a decentralized energy transition" - July 10, 2026, Friday, 3:00 pm, Pavilhão de Informática I, amphitheatre FA2

Date: July 10, 2026, Friday
Time: 3:00 pm
Place: Pavilhão de Informática I, amphitheatre FA2

• Speaker: Diana Neves (Scientific Area of Environment and Energy of DEM/IST; IN+ Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS)

• Title: "From consumers to system actors: modelling energy communities for a decentralized energy transition"

• Abstract:

The transition towards low-carbon energy systems is driving a deep transformation in the way energy is produced, managed, and consumed. Renewable energy resources, including solar photovoltaic systems on buildings, storage systems (such as batteries), and demand-side flexibility, are enabling consumers to take an increasingly active role in the energy system. Energy communities have emerged as a promising framework to coordinate these resources while fostering local participation and accelerating the deployment of renewable energy and the resulting decarbonization.
This Seminar will present research on modelling and optimization of energy communities, highlighting their potential to enhance renewable energy integration, improve system flexibility, and create value for both participants and the wider energy system. Based on this research over the past few years, this Seminar will address key methodological approaches, current challenges, and future research directions for community-based energy systems in support of a decentralized and just energy transition.

• Short Biographic Note:

Diana Neves is an Assistant Professor in the Scientific Area of Environment and Energy of the Department of Mechanical Engineering (DEM) at Instituto Superior Técnico (IST), Universidade de Lisboa, since November 2025. She holds a PhD in Sustainable Energy Systems (MIT-Portugal Program, 2016), a MSc degree in Energy and Environmental Engineering (2009) and a BSc degree in Meteorology, Oceanography and Geophysics (2007) from the Faculty of Sciences, Universidade de Lisboa.
Since 2016, Diana Neves develops research at IN+ Centre for Innovation, Technology and Policy Research, LARSyS, in the field of renewable technology integration and deployment, energy systems planning and modelling, exploring the technical and economic impact of decentralized solar energy, demand response and energy storage. In particular, she adopts an integrated approach to the design and analysis of low-carbon power systems, with a growing focus on the interaction between participants and system entities on the emerging energy trading paradigms of energy communities, and their associated policy and regulatory frameworks. She is also one of the creators of the platform for visualization of socio-economic metabolism data MetaExplorer: http://metaexplorer.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/.

This is another Seminar of the “Seminars@DEM” cycle.