Integration of smart-grid technologies in the everyday life

PhD student Freja FriisDanish Building Research Institute

Aalborg University, Copenhagen, Denmark

Background

Overall aim To get more Renewables into the

energy systemKnowledge on users management of

smart grid technologiesHelp to fill out the lack of research on

integration of peak-shaving peak- technologies in the end-user design

ChallengesTo balance consumption and

production in the energy system To engage users to manage their

consumption

SolutionSmart-grids potential to balance

fluctuations through flexible(intelligent EV) load-management

Overall research question

How do Electric Vehicles and Dynamic Pricing influence on households everyday social practices?

Purpose: To get a more complex understanding of households perceptions according to integrate smart-grid technology into their everyday

Case-study18 test-pilots from two Danish towns (context: Country-side, southern part ofJutland), participated in the two demonstration projects ’Test-an-EV’ and ’Project Dynamic Pricing’ during 5 months in the summer-period 2012

Project ‘Test-an-EV’

‘Project Dynamic Pricing’

Method and empirical materialQualitative interviews with 8 households

• Selection: widest variation on socio-economic parameters among the 18 participants• Front-runners & first-adopters, huge engagement and interest in the EV technology• Focus: everyday changes (routines and habits) according to the two new technologies

Participant observation on information meetings (car-handover, mid-time evaluation)

A Survey to the test-pilots (evaluation carried out by CLEVER)Test-pilots Gen

derAge Education Annual income

(in euro)Civil state

Householdssize

Children Transportation need (km)

Environmental awareness

Technological awareness

Test-pilot 1 F 61 Skilled 60.000- 101.000 Married 2 0 40-60 High Medium

Test-pilot 2 M 42 Unskilled 31.000- 60.000 Married 4 2 h, 1 o 20-40 Low High

Test-pilot 3 M 51 Unskilled 60.000- 101.000 Married 3 1 h, 2 o 60-70 Medium Medium

Test-pilot 4 M 45 Skilled 31.000- 60.000 Single 2 1 h 60-70 High High

Test-pilot 5 F 32 Skilled 31.000- 60.000 Married 4 2 h 20-40 Medium Medium

Test-pilot 6 F 33 Skilled 31.000- 60.000 Married 2 o 20-40 Low Medium

Test-pilot 7 F 48 Academic 101.000-134.000 Single 2 1 h, 3 o 0-20 Medium Medium

Test-pilot 8 M 36 Skilled 101.000-134.000 Married 4 2 h 40-60 High High

Analytical approachThe empirical materiel is analysed through the SPT concept

Social Practice Theory• Offers a concept to ‘understand and explain’ dynamics (development,

persistence and changes) in social practices• The conceptualisation focuses on the dynamic of practices in everyday life• Sociological theory, BUT recognises the meaning of materiality

Technology

Know-how and embodied knowledge

Institutionalised knowledge and explicit ‘rules’

Social practice

Engagement

Changes in test-pilots everyday lifeAnalytical strategyChanges are identified through the 4 elements and their interactions

2 new social practices

Technology

Know-how and embodied knowledge

EngagementInstitutionalised knowledge and explicit ‘rules’

1. New driving performances&

2. New consumption patterns (consumption during night)

1. New driving performances

EV-technology is constantly compared with conventional technology

Even though EVs look like conventional cars, the test-pilots developed…….

Technology

New driving techniques (due to the limited range + battery capacity)

Increased awareness of driving distances and consumption during driving

Developed more ‘economic’, sustainable driving techniques to save power – competition

Increased awareness of other people in the traffic (due to the silence of the car)

Expectations: The new driving techniques will spill-over on conventional car driving

Know-how and

embodied knowledge

1. New driving performances

Load-management (2 ½ months individual and 2 ½ months central management, controlled by CLEVER)

Individual charging

In general the everyday EV charging was unproblematic > the charging process was perceived as a routine which was an integrated part of the evening ritual

A relief to manage the charging process yourself and be independent of gas stations

Problems in manual charging: Either the timer function didn’t work or it was too complicated to managed?

When the charging failed (few times) > it felt as a stressful/unsecure element in the everyday (especially among children families)

Central load-management

A great support and satisfaction by letting CLEVER control the load-management

Success criteria: The technology has to be ‘as easy as possible’

Institutionalised knowledge and explicit ‘rules’

1. New driving performances

Engagement > A prestige full sustainable performanceBetter conscience and a nicer stomach-feelingA feeling of being more green and environmental friendlyA belief in EVs as the auto mobility technology in the futureProud about their EV-driving > positive support from the outside world > excellent

ambassadors

More frequent driving in stead of walking and bikingA need for an extra car (An experience of freedom and enhanced mobility and comfort, BUT

not realistic expenses!

Engagement

1. New driving performances

2. New consumption patterns

All households moved their flexible electricity consumption to the night time during the project• Flexible electricity-consumption: dishing, laundry, tumble drying and EV-charging• Motivated by the dynamic net tariffs

New (morning) routines and habits• Empty the dishwasher• Hang up laundry • Especially children families express the mornings as more busy (less flexible), but in

general unproblematic

An economic, participatory and environmental incentive

• Huge economic incentive > ‘the money saving’ factor has huge impact• The projects rules/concept have huge influence on the test-pilots

expectations and feeling of commitment• New consumption patterns developed new routines

EngagementInstitutionalised knowledge and explicit ‘rules’

2. New consumption patterns

Increased environmental consciousness and awareness of energy consumption• Turn of unnecessary light, installation of timers and acquisition of low energy appliances• Self-perceptions: To be more sustainable consumers in the future

2. New consumption patterns

Results/conclusion• Peak-shaving technologies change consumption practices in the everyday life.

• Social practices change through innovation and interaction in the four elements that constitute social practices: technology, engagement, institutionalised rules and/or know-how.

• The experimental/test element and institutional rules are essential to change consumption patterns and to the degree of participation, ownership and commitment.

• The participatory element has increased awareness of environmental issues and consumption in the test-period.

• Socio-economic conditions determine the degree of flexibility to change consumption patterns.

• Success criteria: Technology (load-management) has to be ‘as easy as possible’.

• Question to further research: To what extent will the new consumption patterns persist after the two demonstration projects end????

Thanks for your attention!