Consumer engagement in low-carbon home energy in the United Kingdom: Implications for future energy system decentralization

Aimie Hope,Thomas Roberts,Ian Walker

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.032

Aimie Hope, Thomas Roberts + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2018.05.032

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Abstract

There are competing visions for what future low-carbon energy systems might look like. However, it is likely that consumers will be more actively involved in managing their energy use. Consequently, there is likely to be some disruption to the current rhythm of everyday domestic social practices. This paper considers what we can learn from people who already take a more active role in managing their energy supply, with the aim of identifying transferable lessons that could be applied to future energy system decentralization. We compare two case studies focused on people with different levels of grid connectivity - people living off-grid on narrowboats and living in semi-grid connected houses in rural Norfolk. We find that where people had constraints on their energy use, they responded in three main ways. First, they diversified their energy supplies, including adopting traditional fuels such as coal and wood. Second, people planned, monitored and shifted their energy use, responding in ways favorable to micro-generation and demand-side response. Third, people curtailed energy use. We propose that UK households may respond in similar ways to decentralized energy. Finally we consider the implications of our findings for future energy policy aimed at decentralizing energy production and supply.

Highlights

Citizens’ emotionally-charged responses can delay or even prevent the introduction of energy projects into society
This paper develops hypotheses about antecedents of specific emotions based on findings from appraisal theory and from technology acceptance studies, and tests these hypotheses for emotions about a local hydrogen fuel station
This study focuses on four sets of potential antecedents of specific emotions about energy projects: (1) perceived outcomes, (2) procedural and distributive fairness, (3) prior awareness, and (4) trust

Summary

Introduction

Citizens’ emotionally-charged responses can delay or even prevent the introduction of energy projects into society. Emotions about new technologies have often been viewed negatively. They are said to result from ignorance and to undermine the decision-making process, which should ideally be based in rational weighing of risks and benefits [3,2]. That emotions are helpful, valuable, and even necessary for making practical and moral judgments [5,6] and result from, or co-occur with appraisals of the situation Understanding what underlies citizens’ emotions about new energy projects can help developers, policymakers, and industry managers to design better technologies, policies, and communications, and to undertake more ethically acceptable and practically accepted enterprises

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