Energy Product Service Systems as core element of energy transition in the household sector: The Greenplay project

International audienceThis paper focuses on Business Model innovation practices within the specific field of energy transition in the household sector. In recent years the value chain between the stakeholders involved in this field has been modified due to recent technological changes, which poses a threat for current companies and an opportunity for insiders. This research work has been carried out within the Greenplay project, which is an EU funded Horizon H2020 project. This project aims to develop new business models that reduce energy consumption in the household sector and can be successfully implemented. In this paper, we present a framework based on intersection of two group of categories. The first one is issued from energy transition presented by consumer behaviour, energy efficiency and renewable energy and the second is abstracted from Product-Service System (PSS). The methodology is based on defining the characteristics of a Product Service System in general followed by Smart PSS (integrated smart product and e-service) qualities and the current ESCo (Energy Service Company) business model characteristics. Finally based on aforementioned analysis on energy transition and Product-Service System, we discuss a set of Servicizing energy business models for energy transition in household sector. The main objective is to shed light on the ability of designing new business models (BMs), in household sector, as a result of integrating PSS with the emerging trends for sustainable energy. In this study, a systematic literature review is conducted related to energy business models. Furthermore, the proposed framework is a crossing classification based on criteria concerning PSS and various energy production and consumption BM. Finally the characteristics of an innovative business model for energy transition in household sector can be transposed to other sectors, mainly those who deal with Product Service System. In the second phase of the Greenplay project the authors will apply the proposed framework to the use cases identified in the project: households that are able to fine-tune their energy use thanks to smart meters that provide free access to data in real-time. The goal is to get feedback from researchers that have already implement innovative Business Models in this or other sector, as well as to discuss with researchers and practitioners that have analysed firms that have successfully innovated their business models. This feedback will allow us to adjust the framework before the experiment with the companies of the Greenplay project