A typology of flexible users in a smart grid project

Panel: 9. Dynamics of consumption

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Georgia Gaye, Centre for Studies on Sustainable Development – IGEAT, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Belgium
Grégoire Wallenborn, Centre for Studies on Sustainable Development, Université Libre de Bruxelles

Abstract

Demand response and user flexibility are key issues in the development of smart grids. However, mainstream policies rely mostly on economic and technical instruments to make users more “flexible”. In participating to a smart grid project in Belgium, we have explored how users might engage in other ways than dynamic tariff and direct load control. The Flexipac project aims at evaluating the potential of flexibility in storing electricity through the use of heat pumps and well-insulated buildings. We have been in charge of the ethnographic study, whose explicit objectives were, on one hand, to understand the practices related to the heat pump (and other appliances) and, on the other hand, to analyse users’ flexibility. We have focussed our observations on what people do (and not on what they are supposed to do). We have investigated the following research questions: how do householders manage their comfort? How do they use and control their heating system? How do respondents manage their electricity consumption? Are they willing to delegate the management of their heating systems and appliances to external operators?

The analysis of the data of our sample results in four types of users: the Economist, the Technician, the Environmentalist and the Compromiser. In the paper we show how these types are related to the dimensions of economic calculation, environmental practices, technical competences, appropriation of the heat pump commands, control of energy consumption and thermal flexibility (as stated by respondents). We analyse these types from different points of views: electricity consumption, measured temperature, energy saving actions, notion of comfort, interest in the grid management, electrical and thermal flexibility. We conclude with a discussion of policy tools used for the development of smart grids, and we show that some segments of the population are not considered in current policies. Today, smart grid instruments are mainly based on information, prices and technology. Environment, participation, community are hardly explored in smart grid projects although they might rally important portions of the users.