Smart grids, smart users? The role of the user in demand side management

Goulden, Murray; Bedwell, Ben; Rennick-Egglestone, Stefan; Rodden, Tom; Spence, Alexa

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2014.04.008

Cited by 294 publications

(160 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

155

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Considering public views in this way is also important because energy transitions as a whole will involve people and communities in multiple ways-from consumers deciding how they should use the services that energy provides, to the ways in which society as a whole grants energy system providers a social licence to operate 14,15 . While there exists a wealth of evidence reporting public views of individual supply-side technologies and infrastructure, or on particular aspects of energy demand-side change (for example, refs [16][17][18][19], there is little research that meaningfully engages people with the complexities of system change as a whole (although see refs 20-26).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding which energy future configurations provide publicly acceptable levels of energy security, a ordability, and environmental protection is critical for institutional decision-making. However, little is known about how scenarios influence energy preferences. Here we present nationally representative UK data on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool that encourages engagement with the holistic complexities of system change. Engagement with the tool strengthened existing preferences for renewable energy and intentions to take personal action. Importantly, patterns of energy preferences were influenced by exemplar scenarios, which served as reference points that anchored choices. Carbon capture and storage, nuclear power, biofuels, and changes to heating and travel were particularly impacted by scenarios indicating uncertainty and ambivalence regarding these options. Scenarios (and scenario-building tools) are valuable for engaging citizens about future energy systems. However, care is required in their design and interpretation to reach robust conclusions about underlying preferences and acceptance.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool

2017

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Beyond smart meters, research on public perceptions of DSM is limited, most being small-scale (given much of the technology is not currently widely available) and prone to recruitment bias given that those who take part in such trials are often particularly interested in technologies and/or the field of energy 16 . Evidence available indicates acceptance of DSM varies greatly depending on device and operation.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Public perceptions of demand-side management and a smarter energy future

et al. 2015

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Nick (2015) Public perceptions of demand side management and a smarter energy future. Nature Climate Change, 5 . pp. 550-554. ISSN 1758-678XAccess from the University of Nottingham repository: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/29832/3/Public%20perceptions%20of%20DSM%20-%20Spence%20et%20al%20authors%20copy.pdf Copyright and reuse:The Nottingham ePrints service makes this work by researchers of the University of Nottingham available open access under the following conditions. This article is made available under the University of Nottingham End User licence and may be reused according to the conditions of the licence. For more details see: http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/end_user_agreement.pdf A note on versions:The version presented here may differ from the published version or from the version of record. If you wish to cite this item you are advised to consult the publisher's version. Please see the repository url above for details on accessing the published version and note that access may require a subscription.For more information, please contact eprints@nottingham.ac.uk According to industry and government analyses, DSM has the potential to increase energy efficiency, and improve network flexibility 3,4,5 . It could provide cost and operating benefits to energy companies, particularly in terms of automated meter readings and reduced customer inquiries, as well as benefits to society, for example through the reduction of carbon emissions 3,5,6 . Currently, DSM is primarily discussed in relation to electricity (the focus here) and a key driver for deployment is the facilitation of integration of renewables onto electricity grids as part of efforts to reduce carbon emissions whilst also maintaining the reliability of supply. Increased proportions of renewables would increase reliance on electricity as opposed to gas, affect the

show abstract

“…Technologically speaking, this energy management with peer-to-peer supply and storage enables a more efficient use of the electricity grid infrastructure; the second goal of the Experimentation Decree. However, decreasing peak loads and, thereby, using the grid infrastructure more efficiently depend strongly on the involvement of single grid users [44]. Dynamic electricity tariffs can facilitate consumer engagement and behaviour change in form of shifting demand [45].…”

Section: More Efficient Use Of Grid Infrastructure and Involvement Ofmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Involving end-users is crucial for the integration of DG in the low-voltage grid [44], and "marks a major shift in the nature of electricity systems and their governance" [51] (p. 767). Verbong et al [52] summarize three main barriers for active consumer involvement in the Dutch electricity sector, as identified by [53]: (a) the limits on selling generated electricity; (b) the lack of dynamic tariffs; and (c) proportionally high costs for the utilization of the transmission grid.…”

Section: Limited Active Consumer Involvementmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experimenting with Law and Governance for Decentralized Electricity Systems: Adjusting Regulation to Reality?

Lammers

Diestelmeier

2017

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Moving towards a low-carbon society calls not only for technological innovation, but also for new modes of governance. However, the current legal framework of the electricity sector, and the modes of governance that it establishes, impede innovation in the sector. To overcome this obstacle, in 2015 the Dutch government adopted a Crown decree for experiments with decentralized renewable electricity generation (Experimentation Decree) with the aim to generate insights on how to adjust the legal framework. The question remains whether regulation is being adopted to real-life settings, i.e., which lessons can be learned from experimentally acquired results regarding new modes of governance for decentralized electricity systems? To answer this question we apply an interdisciplinary approach: we investigate which modes of governance are established in the Experimentation Decree (legal research) and which ones are implemented in nine projects (governance research). Under the Decree, associations have to carry out all tasks in the electricity supply chain and can engage in collective generation, peer-to-peer supply and system operation. Other modes of governance, new actors for emerging activities and consumer involvement are limited. We conclude that the Experimentation Decree is too restricted regarding new modes of governance for a decentralized electricity system in real-life settings.

show abstract

Smart grids, smart users? The role of the user in demand side management

Cited by 294 publications

References 26 publications

Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool

Effects of exemplar scenarios on public preferences for energy futures using the my2050 scenario-building tool

Public perceptions of demand-side management and a smarter energy future

Experimenting with Law and Governance for Decentralized Electricity Systems: Adjusting Regulation to Reality?

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About