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Call Uncertainty Reduction in Smart Energy Systems 2013
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Registration form (basic details)
1a Project Title
Emerging Energy Practices in the Smart Grid
1b Project Acronym
E-Practices
1c Principal investigator
Prof. dr. ir Gert Spaargaren
2 Summary of research proposal
This research focuses on E-practices as they emerge within and around households in the
Netherlands in the context of smart grid developments. The study aims to reduce uncertainty for both
consumers and providers by investigating the dynamics and characteristics of emerging E-practices
This knowledge is used to assess, (re)design and promote E-practices in the near future. We combine
qualitative and quantitative research methods in a research design that includes the participation of
household-consumers, prosumers, and energy, technology and advisory providers. We use the Social
Practices Approach as research perspective which offers new insights in how lifestyle characteristics
and competences of consumers co-evolve with objects like smart meters, smart appliances and smart
energy infrastructures. The research contributes to reducing uncertainties and risks of smart grid
technologies by better embedding them in societal norms and behavioural strategies concerning
(sustainable) energy consumption.
Two PhD researchers – supervised by WU and TU/e, supported by Enexis and MilieuCentraal - will
investigate and help reduce the uncertainties that consumers (PhD1), and grid operators and energy
suppliers (PhD2) encounter in the context of newly emerging E-practices around monitoring and
feedback, timing of demand, mobility and energy collectives. The adoption of new technologies, the
prediction of demand and co-production, and the new power relations between providers and
consumers are key factors in this. A postdoc researcher will coordinate smart energy platform
meetings that bring together key players in the mediation between energy provision and consumption
and which delivers data on E-practices and recommendations for policy, marketing and energy advice.
(250)
3 Main field of research (compulsory)
45.90.00 Sociology
44.20.00 Political science
50.90.00 Environmental science
49.11.00 Planning
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Past performance and group publications
4 Composition of the Research Team (maximum 1200 words)
Members of the Research Team
Prof dr ir Gert Spaargaren (project coordinator; first promotor PhD 1; second promotor PhD2;
supervisor Postdoc)
Environmental Policy Group Wageningen University
Professor in Environmental policy for sustainable lifestyles and consumption.
Expertise: Sociology, Practice theory, Environmental Policy, Consumer behaviour;
Infrastructures for Energy, Water and Wastes .
Since 2000, Gert Spaargaren has been involved as promotor in more than 15 PhD projects in the field
of energy, water and wastes infrastructures (Van Vliet, 2002; Melchert, 2004; Hegger, 2007; Oberlin,
2011; Majale, 2011; Liu, 2013, Naus, 2016), sustainable consumption (Verbeek, 2009;
Kantamaturapoj, 2012; Nijhuis, 2013; Sargant, 2014) and informational governance and policy (Van
den Burg, 2006; Tysiachniouk, 2012; Boonman-Berson, 2014; Thongplew, 2014). He was the initiator
and coordinator of a number of large (inter)national, interdisciplinary research programs, a.o. the EUfunded DOMUS program (1998-2002) the NWO/KSI funded CONTRAST program (2005 -2009), and
the WUR/INREF funded PROVIDE program (2007 – 2012). He has published over 200 scientific
articles and book chapters, and has a Hirsch-factor (ISI based) of 10 (as for June 2013) and Google
Scholar based citation indices of 20 (h-index) and 32 (i10-index). His work has appeared in Global
Environmental Change, Environmental Politics, Society and Natural Resources, Organization and
Environment, Sociologia Ruralis and numerous other journals. He served in more than 20 international
committees for the assessment of research projects; he is board member of WIMEK research school
and theme-coordinator of core 4 (social sciences) of SENSE research school.
Dr ir Bas van Vliet (Co-promotor PhD 1)
Environmental Policy Group Wageningen University
Assistant Professor, Environmental Sociologist
PhD thesis (2002) “Greening the Grid”.
Expertise: socio-technical / environmental change; sanitation, water, waste and energy
infrastructures management and service consumption.
Bas van Vliet supervised 4 PhD theses as a co-promotor on Sanitation (Hegger 2007, Letema 2012),
drinking water supply (Kim Ching Too 2012) waste management (Ombis, 2012). Currently he is copromotor of PhD projects on Smart Grids (Naus 2012 – 2016) and Urban Climate Governance
(Lenhart 2011-2015). He was coordinator of an EC funded diagnostic study on Biowaste reuse in
South east Asian Countries (2005- 2006), a Nuffic funded project on Environmental Management in
Uganda (2004-2009) and a KWR funded project on innovation in the Dutch Drinking Water Sector
(2009-2011). He has published over 70 papers and book chapters and has a Hirsch-factor (ISI based)
of 5 (as for September 2013) and Google Scholar based citation index of 11 (i10-index). Bas van Vliet
was first editor of a Springer volume called Social Perspectives on the Sanitation Challenge (2010)
and recently on “Urban Waste and Sanitation Services for Sustainable Development” (Routledge
2013). He was co-editor of “Sustainable Consumption: the implications of changing infrastructures of
provision” (Edward Elgar 2004) and co-author of “Infrastructures of Consumption: Environmental
Innovation in the Utility Industries” (Earthscan 2005). His journal articles appeared in Journal of
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Environmental Policy and Planning, Environmental Management, Water Policy, Environmental Politics,
Technology Analysis and Strategic Management, among others.
Prof.dr.ir Geert Verbong (first promotor PhD 2; second promotor PhD-1; co-supervisor Postdoc)
Professor in Transition Studies, Technology, Innovation & Society group at the Department of
Industrial Engineering & Innovation Sciences, Eindhoven University
PhD thesis 1988 on Innovations in cotton printing and dyeing in the Netherlands in the 19 th
century
Expertise: system innovations and transition studies, smart grids, implementation of
renewables
Geert Verbong, recently appointed as a full professor, has been promotor of one PhD student
(Dignum, 2013) and is promotor of several on-going PhD-projects on energy related topics (Ulmanen,
2013; Kirkels, 2014; Huijben 2014; Jolly, 2015). He has an MSc in Applied Physics. He was co-editor
of two book series on the History of Technology in the Netherlands in the nineteenth and twentieth
century. His publications include further a book on the history of renewable energy in the Netherlands
(2001), the Dutch Energy Research Centre (2005) and Governing the Energy Transition (2012). He
also contributed to the Global Energy Assessment (2012). He has been the initiator and program
leader of several externally funded research projects, including a NWO project on Transitions and
transitions paths: the road to a sustainable energy system (2003-2009); a NOW-ACTS-project on
sustainable hydrogen (2006-2012) and 2 EOS-LT projects TREIN-1 and TREIN -2 (2007-2012). He
has published over 140 scientific articles and book chapters, and has a Hirsch-factor (ISI based) of 10
(as for September 2013) and Google Scholar based citation indices of 18 (h-index) and 25 (i10-index).
His work has appeared in Energy Policy, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Technological
Forecasting and Social Change, Environmental Science and Policy and several other journals.
Contributors/Partners/Users:
Prof. dr. Elizabeth Shove
Lancaster University; DEMAND
Expertise: Practice theory; consumption; technology; everyday life; energy
Professor Dr Elizabeth Shove fulfilled a three year ESRC funded fellowship on “Transitions in practice”
and is currently co-director of the DEMAND centre (2013-2018, funded by the ESRC/EPSRC),
researching energy demand management and radically reconfiguring infrastructures, buildings and
transport systems in line with greenhouse gas emissions targets. Professor Shove is a very prominent,
internationally well-known scholar on social practice theory and she has published extensively on the
theme of energy, building and everyday life. Her books on ‘Comfort, Cleanliness and Convenience’
(Berg, 2003) and more recently on ‘the dynamics of practices’ (Sage, 2012) are leading publications in
the field.
Dr. Puk van Meegeren
MilieuCentraal (Dutch Consumer Organization)
PhD in (Environmental) Communication Sciences 1997 at Wageningen University
Head of the Section Communication of MilieuCentraal, responsible for the websites, publicity,
communication projects and research. He is Programme manager of “Energiebesparing in huis”
(Energy Conservation at Home), and he develops environmental communication projects with various
companies and NGOs.
Charlotte Kobus MSc
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Innovator at Enexis BV
Charlotte Kobus received her MSc degree in Strategic Product Design at the Delft University of
Technology, The Netherlands in 2010. Currently, she is innovator at Enexis, a large Dutch Distribution
Network Operator, and a PhD candidate at the department of Product Innovation Management at the
Delft University of Technology. This combination allows her to conduct both several consumer studies
and be closely involved in the development of smart energy concepts such as Jouw Energie Moment.
Else Veldman MSc
Innovator at Enexis BV
Else Veldman received her M.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Twente, the
Netherlands. She works at the Innovation department of Enexis B.V. This department formulates and
realizes innovation projects and essential research. In the function of Innovator, she contributes to the
realization of the innovation portfolio of Enexis B.V.. Else is also with the Electrical Energy Systems
group of the Eindhoven University of Technology, the Netherlands, where she is pursuing a Ph.D. on
the future function, planning and operation of electricity distribution networks.
Julia Williams-Jacobse and Erik ten Elshof
Both are staff of the Smart Grids division of Directorate Energy and Sustainability at the Ministry of
Economic Affairs. They expressed their wish to be involved in the research and to participate in user
meetings on the progress and outcomes of this project.
5 List of publications
Gert Spaargaren
Spaargaren Gert and Arthur P.J. Mol (2013). Carbon flows, carbon markets, and low-carbon lifestyles:
reflecting on the role of markets in climate governance. Environmental Politics, 22: 1, 174 - 193
Liu, W.L., Spaargaren, G., Heerink, N., Mol, A.P.J., Wang, C., 2013. Energy consumption practices of
rural households in north China: basic characteristics and potential for low carbon development.
Energy Policy, Energy Policy 55 (2013) 128–138
Spaargaren Gert (2011) Theories of Practices: Agency, Technology, and Culture; Exploring the
relevance of practice theories for the governance of sustainable consumption practices in the
new world-order, Global Environmental Change 21 (3), August 2011
Spaargaren Gert and Peter Oosterveer (2010) Citizen-Consumers as Change Agents in Globalizing
Modernity: the Case of Sustainable Consumption. In: Sustainability 2010, 2, 1887 - 1908
Spaargaren, Gert and C.S.A. (Kris) van Koppen (2009), Provider Strategies and the Greening of
Consumption Practices; Exploring the role of companies in sustainable consumption. In: H,
Lange and L. Meier (Eds.) The New Middle Classes; Globalizing Lifestyles, Consumerism and
Environmental Concern. Bremen: Springer Verlag, pp. 81 – 100.
Bas van Vliet
Van Vliet, B. J. M. (2012) Sustainable Innovation in Network-Bound Systems: Implications for the
Consumption of Water, Waste Water and Electricity Services. Journal of Environmental Policy &
Planning 14(3): 263-278.
Hegger, D.L.T., G. Spaargaren, B.J.M. van Vliet, J. Frijns. (2011) Consumer-inclusive innovation
strategies for the Dutch water supply sector: Opportunities for more sustainable products and
services. WJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences, 58 (1-2) pp. 49-56.
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Hegger, D.L.T.; Vliet, J. van; Vliet, B.J.M. van (2007) Niche Management and its Contribution to
Regime Change: The Case of Innovation in Sanitation. Technology Analysis and Strategic
Management 19 (6). - p. 729 - 746.
Van Vliet, B.J.M.; Chappells, H.; Shove, E. (2005) Infrastructures of Consumption. Environmental
Innovation in the Utility Industries London: Earthscan
Spaargaren, G.; Vliet, B.J.M. van (2000) Lifestyles, Consumption and the Environment : The
Ecological Modernisation of Domestic Consumption Environmental Politics 9 (2000) 1 - p. 50 77 .
Geert Verbong
J.C.C.M. Huijben, G.P.J. Verbong, Breakthrough without subsidies? PV business model experiments
in the Netherlands, Energy Policy, Volume 56, May 2013, Pages 362-370..
G.P.J. Verbong, S. Beemsterboer and F. Sengers, Smart Grids and Smart Users?: Involving users in
developing a low carbon electricity economy, Energy Policy 52 (2013), 117-125.
Kirkels, A, G, Verbong, Biomass Gasification: still promising?A 30 year global overview
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15 (2011) 471–481.
G.P.J. Verbong and F.W. Geels, Exploring sustainability transitions in the electricity sector with sociotechnical pathways, Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 2010, 77 (2010) 1214–1221.
Geert Verbong, Frank Geels, The ongoing energy transition: Lessons from a socio-technical, multilevel analysis of the Dutch electricity system (1960-2004), Energy Policy, 35 (2007) 1025–1037
Charlotte Kobus
Kobus, C.B.A., R. Mugge & J.P.L. Schoormans (2012). "Washing when the sun is shining! How users
interact with a household energy management system." Ergonomics
Kobus, C., J. Knigge, S. Schouwenaar, H. Slootweg “Krachtenspel tussen sociale verandering en
innovatie”, Utilities, 2013.
Kobus, C.B.A., Kohlmann, J., Knigge, J.D., Klaassen, E.A.M., Boots, S. (2013). Sharing Lessons
Learned on Developing and Operating Smart Grid Pilots with Households, 4th IEEE PES
Innovative Smart Grid Technologies (ISGT) Europe Conference, 6-9 October 2013,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
Kobus, C.B.A., B. de Jonge, J.D. Knigge, and J.G. Slootweg, “User Centric Design of Smart Grid: a
social and economical approach,” in Proc. 2011 21st International Conference on Electricity
Distribution, Frankfurt June 6-9, 2011.
6 Research Schools
WIMEK/SENSE (Gert Spaargaren, Bas van Vliet, PHD1 and Postdoc)
WTMC (Geert Verbong, PHD2)
Research proposal
7 Content of the proposed project
7a Scientific aspect
Background assumptions
The system of electricity supply, distribution and consumption is rapidly changing from a uniform onedirectional large scale supply system towards a system based on distributed generation of electricity
from various sources at different levels. Also the domestic electricity market has diversified and will
continue to do so due to the entrance of new electricity suppliers, new services and tariff systems, and
new technologies for the generation and storage of electricity. As compared to the electricity system
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20 years ago, the system has become much more volatile and unpredictable for both consumers and
providers. We take as starting points for our research that in the next decade:
 decentralised electricity production capacity based on renewable resources will grow
 the levels of domestic electricity consumption will increase, a.o. due to “electrification” of
mobility, heating and cooking practices
 the diffusion and use of domestic energy-displays and smart meters will continue to grow
 new technological options for electricity storage, production and use at domestic levels come
within reach of mainstream consumers
 household consumers are increasingly becoming co-providers and co-managers of localized
electricity grids.
Consumer behaviour as an uncertain factor in smart energy systems
One of the main uncertainties in smart energy systems concerns the consumer and his/her future
behaviours. How will domestic consumers respond to energy technologies which bring along new risks
and benefits, new behavioural routines and new social relations?
The future of distributed generation and energy-cooperation at the local and regional levels will not be
primarily decided upon by the energy and information providers. Instead, the decisive factors for the
future of smart grids are to be found in the response of domestic consumers to the new smart grids
and the information flows and technologies that are coming along with them.
The fact that energy consumers are an uncertain factor in smart grids is recognized by many scientists
and policy makers. Domestic routines are shown to be robust and difficult to change, with some
authors arguing that ‘the consumer’ is best conceived of as being on the ‘conservative side’ when it
comes to the uptake and use of socio-technical innovations in general (Heiskanen et al, 2007) and
energy related innovations in particular (Bartiaux, Vekemans et al., 2006). Consumer behaviour has
also proven to be unpredictable in terms of the scope, timing and depth of the changes that are
actually realized (Harland, Staats, & Wilke, 1999). Information on energy consumption result in higher
knowledge levels for consumers, but not necessarily in behavioral changes or energy savings
(Abrahamse et al, 2005).
Novel scientific ways of dealing with behavioural uncertainties
In social science research on domestic energy consumption, frequently used strategies to study the
uncertainties around the role of the consumer are twofold. The first strategy is to segment energy
consumers with the help of a range of individual background variables to specify the set of policyinstruments to be used for specific target groups (high and low environmental awareness; urban- rural;
owners – tenants etc.) (OECD, 2013). A second one is the extensive study of the values, preferences
and attitudes of individual consumers to predict expected future behaviours from present intentions
and preferences.
Over the past decade, the limitations of these strategies have been recognized, exposed and critically
analysed by a number of scholars (Shove, 2011; Spaargaren, 2011). On both theoretical and empirical
grounds, the individualist models have shown to be inadequate for their neglect of context and for their
assumption that individual values are good predictors for new behavioural routines. For repairing the
well documented gap between expressed intentions and actually behaviours of domestic consumers,
an adaptation of the classical theory of planned behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) will not suffice. An alternative
approach to behavioural change is needed to help develop more effective governance strategies to
reduce uncertainties that spring from domestic energy behaviours.
The suggested new approach to reducing behavioural uncertainties in smart grids shifts the focus
away from the individual towards the context in which shared behavioural routines develop (Shove,
2010) while at the same time segmenting the target group with the use of both individual and context
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related variables. Contextual knowledge, referring to the embedding of energy behaviours in the social
settings of household, family, neighbourhood, or association is assumed to deliver a relevant starting
point for policy and governance strategies which aim to reduce the uncertainties around consumer
behaviours in smart grids. Such a contextual approach takes social practices instead of individuals as
the central objects of study.
Defining social practices and E-practices
Social practices have been defined as “routinized type of behaviour which consist of several elements,
interconnected to one other: forms of bodily activities, forms of mental activities, things and their use, a
background knowledge in the form of understanding, know-how, states of emotion and motivational
knowledge” (Reckwitz, 2002, p. 249). From this definition, three main categories emerge: i) lifestylechoices and competences ii) objects, information flows and technologies and iii) social rules and
norms. For this project a social practice is defined as a routinized type of behaviour that results from
the lifestyle choices and competences of groups of individuals who draw upon specific objects,
information flows, technologies and social rules and norms in order to (re)produce the practice. We
speak of an “E-practice” when the routine behaviours refer to the production, distribution, storage,
monitoring and use of domestic electricity.
With the help of theories of social practices (Giddens, 1984; Schatzki, 2002; Shove, 2003;
Spaargaren, 2003) it can be shown how every day behavioural routines of specified groups of energyusers emerge, get routinized, become reconfigured, and dissolve or fade away. Analysing these
dynamics of social practices implies investigating not only the attitudes but also the competences of
individual participants to the practice, while taking into account the co-shaping roles of objects,
technologies, and infrastructures that are relevant for the practice. When considering the role of
values, norms and cultural standards, it is emphasized that individual norms and preferences are
shaped in the context of shared practices which also help produce new value-orientations of
individuals.
Central aim and research questions
The central aim of this research is to follow, analyse and assess the development of new Epractices as they emerge in smart grids, as to reduce uncertainty about consumer appreciation
and uptake of smart energy system configurations.
The following research questions will be dealt with:
1. In the context of smart grid systems, what are the most important emerging E-practices as
judged from both a consumer and a provider point of view?
2. Which factors are key in determining the successful establishment, continuity, development
and change of the new E-practices over time?
3. Which lifestyle characteristics and competences of designated groups of domestic energy
consumers do enhance or prohibit the enrolment of households into the emerging Epractices?
4. Which strategies do (organized) consumers, providers and policy makers propose and employ
to reduce the uncertainties which stem from consumer-(non)behaviours in the context of Epractices?
5. How can scientific and practitioners knowledge on consumer related uncertainties be used to
enhance the societal uptake and successful development of smart energy configurations?
General approach to organise the research
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To answer the research questions, we will document and analyse emerging E-practices that are
documented in the literature on smart grid energy systems, taking the OECD countries as our main
geographical point of reference (question 1). For a selected number of E-practices two PhDresearchers investigate their ‘careers’ in terms of emergence, stability, development and change, while
also looking into the factors which enhance and prohibit the enrolment of domestic consumers into
these selected sets of E-practices (questions 2 and 3). From these analyses we develop knowledge
on the uncertainties in smart energy systems that directly relate to the behaviours of groups of
domestic electricity users. This knowledge will be assessed by the practitioners and organizations that
are related to the project. They will complement the scientific knowledge with their practitioners
knowledge and strategies. A postdoc project is included in the program to develop the active interface
and dialogue between the (organized) consumers and the (energy)providers involved in the reduction
of consumer related uncertainties (question 4). When combining scientific and practitioners knowledge
on uncertainties in smart grids, we are able to answer the question on how to enhance the societal
uptake and development of smart energy configuration in the next future (question 5)
E-practices and themes that will organize the empirical research
Four themes are selected for studying the careers and dynamics of E-practices and the enrolment of
their participants. The themes are selected because they are relevant for answering the research
questions and because they generate knowledge that has direct relevance to the practitioners/
partners participating in the program. The four themes under which dynamics in E-practices will be
studied are 1) new forms of monitoring and feedback used to improve domestic carbon performances;
2) provider- and consumer controlled timing of provision, use and demand for (renewable) electricity in
the household; 3) the embedding of new E-practices in existing mobility routines and 4) the
engagement of domestic consumers in public-private collectives for the (co)production of renewable
energy at community level.
Ad 1) Monitoring and feedback used to improve domestic carbon performances.
The introduction of smart meters is accompanied by the diffusion of new devices and interfaces
among Dutch households. They enable consumers to monitor their own aggregate and device-specific
electricity consumption and production, to compare these data with previous figures and to their
average consumption levels or to consumption levels of other consumers in their neighbourhood.
Monitoring electricity consumption, production and storage within and beyond the household is
therefore a typical emerging E-practice involving new routines, devices and interpretations. As there is
currently a huge variety of interfaces, accessible data sets and security protocols on the market, it is
still uncertain whether and how consumers actually use and incorporate monitoring practices in their
household chores, and whether they sustain these practices after an initial period of experienced
novelty. The relevant question from a practice theory approach is whether, when and how monitoring
and feedback activities develop into established domestic routines. Next to economic and ecological
gains, monitoring and feedback can be valued because they show the contribution that domestic
consumers make to the production of green electricity, as is the case for domestic consumers running
a PV-system. MilieuCentraal has a particular interest in knowledge concerning the emergence and
further development of monitoring routines by households. They bring in knowledge on available
monitoring and feedback (information) technologies as judged from a consumer point of view.
Ad 2) Provider- and consumer controlled timing of provision, use and demand for electricity in the
household
The smart grid will eventually enable consumers to coordinate and fine-tune their electricity demand
with the fluctuating availability of lower priced or sustainable electricity supply. Currently there are
domestic consumers who postpone the use of washing machines or dishwashers until the peak
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production hours of their solar panels. Major domestic appliances (washing machines, dryers,
dishwashers) are already technically prepared for flexible timing of domestic electricity use. Smart
meters enable the automatic switching on and off, depending on the available supply of renewable
energy. Furthermore, grid operators are currently experimenting with electricity storage at the
household level, enabling consumers to store (green) electricity to be used during (expensive) peak
hours. The timing of supply, demand and use will therefore be a major new element in the functioning
of the smart grid and develop itself into an E-practice. It is however not clear whether, and under what
conditions consumers are willing to time their electricity demand according to the rhythms of electricity
supply from the smart grid. The current time-structure of most domestic routines presume that any
activity can be performed at any time relevant for the household. New forms of timing of provision, use
and demand are expected to emerge and will only survive when they manage to combine flexibility
and control for domestic consumers with forms of coordination of smart grids and the optimal use of
renewable resources.
Grid operators have a special responsibility for the coordination of supply and demand in smart grids.
They develop into intermediary service providers between energy supply and consumption, and offer
advice for Demand Side Management. Enexis has a pro-active strategy in the field of sharing
responsibilities with domestic consumers in the timing of provision, use and demand. They expect this
project to generate new knowledge on the conditions for domestic consumers to enrol in the
coordination of smart grids.
Ad 3) The embedding of new E-practices in the existing sets of domestic routines
With the emergence of smart grids and meters, electricity is increasingly used as an energy carrier for
domains that are so far dominated by other carriers such as natural gas or petrol. Traditional gasbased space heating and gas-based cooking increasingly become substituted by heat pumps,
Combined Heat Power, and electric cooking respectively. An important set of practices that is just
recently being (re)connected with electricity storage and use is everyday mobility. Hybrid plug-ins and
full electrical cars are now slowly entering the Dutch car fleet and do as yet not require major
adaptations in the electricity grid. But in future visions of the smart grid they play a major role as a
massive storage capacity for fluctuating electricity supply (NetbeheerNederland, 2009). The emerging
E-practice here is that consumers start monitoring, planning, regulating and balancing their transport
needs according to electricity supply, storage capacity and charging times. Of a different magnitude,
is the massive sale and use of e-bikes that has emerged since the last decade. Although marginal in
terms of electricity consumption as compared to electrical cars, the practice of (commuter) biking has
definitely changed. Consumers are becoming knowledgeable about battery control, charging times
and places to charge. Next to increased domestic competences for electricity based mobility, also the
substitutions that e-bikes and electric cars might bring to the established domestic mobility routines
form an important object of study. What kind of modal-shifts and what kind of changes in everyday
mobility can be expected to result from the introduction of e-mobility?
The research under this theme seeks to illustrate that new E-practices cannot be studied in isolation
but instead have to be investigated for their links with and interdependencies from other domestic
practices. For the successful development of a single E-practice, the process of ‘making and breaking
links’ could be shown to have particular policy relevance.
Ad 4) E-practices engaging domestic consumers in public-private collectives for the (co)production of
renewable energy at the community level.
House owner, tenant or neighbourhood associations have become active with renewable electricity
production in many places in the Netherlands. These collectives regulate the investments in electricity
generators as well as the production, distribution, monitoring and sale of electricity generated from
solar panels, wind turbines or heat pumps. Many times they do so in cooperation with grid operators,
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housing associations or municipalities. In this way, E-practices concerning the de-central production of
renewable energy move beyond the level of the individual, private household and become extended to
public and public-private forms of energy collaboration at the community level. These new forms of
energy production have implications for individual domestic consumers in terms of privacy and
autonomy and for providers in terms of shared risks and responsibilities. As yet, many pilot projects
experiment with roles and responsibilities for (organized) domestic consumers towards both central
and de-central professional energy providers. The successful institutionalization of these E-practices
depends on the formal and informal arrangements which are presently developed to confront the risks
of shared, collaborative or communal energy production.
Knowledge on arrangements to cover up the risks of collaborative E-practices will be relevant both for
housing associations, municipal authorities and grid operators (Enexis) as for (organized) residential
energy users.
Intended results and contribution to NWO-URSES
This project will result in the articulation of E-practices, an analysis of their dynamics of change, as
well as an estimation of which lifestyle groups in society are likely to become enrolled in specified Epractices. It will enable policy makers, energy providers, grid operators and advisors to build
differentiated policy and marketing strategies and energy advices towards those different lifestyle
groups. Different forms of uptake, commitment or involvement will be analysed for the risks and
uncertainties they produce for the future development of smart grids.
The project will deliver important new insights both for the scientific community and for practitioners
which are engaged with research and policy making on the energy transition.
For the scientific community, the research offers a novel approach to everyday life energy behaviours
and the uncertainties they bring along. Practice based research is shown to offer new, complementary
knowledge to the mainstream individualist approaches.
For the community of practitioners, the research offers a new foundation for policy and governance
strategies aimed at reducing the uncertainties in smart grids. The focus on E-practices and (their)
lifestyle-groups brings along additional instruments for the successful development of smart grid
configurations. These new instruments refer to specific ways of supporting new, emerging E-practices,
for stabilizing E-practices, and for making and breaking links between E-practices and relevant other
practices. Instead of lifestyle-group segmentation based on the general population, this research will
produce a lifestyle-group segmentation for specific E-practices.
The project will therefore make important contributions to the aims of the NWO call. The call aims at
realizing “a reduction of uncertainty in the transformation towards sustainable and decentralised
energy provision and to recommend innovative interventions that will lead to more sustainable patterns
of energy and resource consumption.” This project contributes to Theme 3, and in particular the
programme line “Understanding the preferences and behaviour of customers”. Due to its contextual
approach the project also contributes to the programme line “Insight in the strategies of organizations
to reduce uncertainty in SES developments”.
Research methods
The knowledge on emerging E-practices will be obtained through:
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STW
Firstly, as many E-practices and provider strategies are likely to be emerging during the time frame of
this project, e.g. in the 12 projects of the IPIN program, the project researchers organize and
participate in series of ‘smart energy platform’ meetings around the four themes mentioned above. In
these meetings we invite consumers, providers and intermediary organizations to reflect on state-ofthe-art of emerging E-practices and the newly emerging relations between domestic consumers and
providers of energy in smart grid configurations. In this way the researchers obtain first-hand
information on emerging practices and provider strategies in smart energy systems in the design
stage.
Secondly semi-structured interviews will be executed with household consumers, energy companies,
grid operators, housing corporations, regional and local authorities who are involved in smart energy
systems, on various levels and stadia of development. We expect to do 40-50 interviews, including at
least 20 interviews with domestic consumers. Selection of interviewees will be done in close
collaboration of the smart energy platform members, and with MilieuCentraal and Enexis.
Thirdly the research involves the collection of experiences with and consumer reviews on domestic
energy managing devices through an interactive web portal hosted by MilieuCentraal
(www.energieverbruiksmanagers.nl).
Lastly a larger scale survey research among 500 household consumers will be developed to assess
the relationship between lifestyles and the uptake of and enrolment in new E-practices. We will use the
monitoring data which are already available with providers (Enexis) to specify the relationship between
lifestyles and E-practices of designated groups of consumers.
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PhD 1
Consumer perspectives
on E-practices
Monitoring
PhD 2
Provider perspectives
on E-practices
Timing
Mobility
Energy Collectives
PostDoc project: Theory development, Smart Energy Platforms
Figure 1: Organization of PhD and Postdoc research
The research activities will be executed by 2 PhD researchers and 1 Post doc researcher (figure 1).
PhD 1 (at Wageningen University) will emphasise on the E-practices in the domains of 1 (Monitoring),
2 (Timing) and 3 (Mobility) while PhD 2 (at Eindhoven University) will emphasise on E-practices in
theme 2 (Timing), 3 (Mobility) and 4 (Energy Collectives). The research between the two PhDs differ
in the sense that PhD 1 focuses on e-practices from an domestic consumers’ or end-user perspective,
while PhD 2 studies the emerging e-practices from a providers’ point of view. The former will lead to
new knowledge about the routinization of energy behaviour, and the embedding of e-practices into
other social practices; while the latter leads to knowledge about co-construction of practices by
provisioning actors and their services and technologies. The PostDoc researcher will further develop a
common theoretical framework on social E-practices to support the study from both perspectives.
(S)he will also be responsible for the organisation of smart energy platforms with consumers and
providers and other practitioners on each of the four themes under study.
Scientific relevance
This project is scientifically relevant as its theoretical framework builds on, and contributes to, the fast
developing field of practice research within sociology of consumption and the environmental social
sciences (Spaargaren 2011, Shove, 2010). Practice research is now well positioned as a viable
alternative to the social-psychology and rational-choice economics literature that focusses on
individual perceptions and behaviours (Shove 2010b).
Experiments with domestic energy monitoring and effects of (on-line) feedback to domestic
consumers’ energy related behaviour have been studied and discussed since the 1990s (Abrahamse
et al, 2005; Delmas et al, 2013; Van den Burg, 2006; Völlink & Meertens, 1999, 2006; Wallenborn,
Orsini, & Vanhaverbeke, 2011). Results show that effects of domestic energy monitoring on energy
conservation behaviour are hard to measure, and if so, they are less than expected, while the
preferred behavioural change does not sustain for long. There is a growing consensus amongst
scholars in this field that giving energy related feedback alone will not suffice to make a long term
change in energy-related behaviour.
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The study of emerging E-practices around smart energy systems may offer insights for the theoretical
exploration of emerging practices around other network-bound services that may become volatile or
‘smart’ in the near future. Compared to other infrastructures, electricity systems have been
frontrunners in liberalization and internationalisation of markets, privatization of supply companies, and
the differentiation in terms of sources, providers, products and services (van Vliet 2012). The study of
emerging practices around electricity might therefore be useful for the understanding of change in
other - partly overlapping – infrastructure-related practices within households, i.e. concerning water, or
waste services.
7b Innovation
In theoretical respect the proposed project is innovative as it utilizes and builds upon a social practices
perspective in a field of environmental social science that has been dominated by behavioural studies
and experiments. The choice for the objects of study - E-practices as emerging sets of routinized
behaviour around domestic electricity production, storage, transport, use and monitoring – will re-direct
existing debates in science and policy and produce new, as yet unexplored ways to enrol consumers
into the development of new E-practices.
This research will make an important contribution to practice theory and research. In particular the
focus on the dynamics of change in (energy) practices adds to the body of practice research build up
so far. Also the focus on the policy relevance of practice theory makes this research innovative in the
field of social sciences.
An innovation for both scientists and practitioners is the dual focus on E-practices: providerperspectives on E-practices are combined with consumer-perspectives. This interface will be given
special attention in both theoretical and methodological respects, with platform meetings bringing
together key actors and their representatives from both the consumer and the provider side. The
project aims to combine primary data generation and utilization of the results by practitioners in the
field of smart grids. The smart energy platforms will construct, discuss and reflect on emerging Epractices and new relations between consumers, providers and intermediary organisations, while a
web-portal for consumers exchanging information around energy managing devices will serve as an
important source of data on emerging E-practices.
Finally, by linking up with similar research projects being conducted in the UK (DEMAND, coordinated
by professor Shove), the project will bring a comparative dimension to the emergence of new domestic
energy practices.
7c Utilisation
1. Description of the problem and the proposed solution.
The key social problem addressed in this project is the uncertainty about the quality and extent of
enrolment of consumers into new emerging E-practices. These practices may align or not with current
lifestyles, and may cause consumer worries about smart grids and meters in general. This is a
problem for both household consumers and for electricity providers and advisors in this field.
The first (scientific) way of solving this problem is by mapping out, specifying, and investigating the
uncertainties involved in (the lack of) consumer enrolment into smart grids. The second (knowledge
utilization) way of solving this problem is by designing governance arrangements, marketing strategies
and energy advices relevant for the reduction of uncertainties among representatives of both
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Social Sciences
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(organized) consumers as well as (energy and technology) providers. The results will be
collaboratively generated, interpreted and applied
by researchers and the project partners
MilieuCentraal and Enexis during the course of the project.
MilieuCentraal will benefit from generated knowledge by integrating it in its website on
“energieverbruiksmanagers” (first launch in October 2013), a web-platform informing consumers on
comparative qualities of the various electricity interfaces on the market.
Enexis will benefit from generated knowledge on emerging E-practices in its participation in pilot
projects on smart grids and electrical cars for which new services, and marketing tools will be
developed.
2. Utilisation plan
MilieuCentraal:
Dr. Puk van Meegeren
Manager Communications
Program manager Energy at Home
030-2305087 / 06-51820905
Herculesplein 357
3584 AA Utrecht
[email protected]
MilieuCentraal uses the insights for developing tailor-made energy advices for differentiated
consumers groups in their domestic use of smart grid applications (smart meters, energy management
devices, financial arrangements for renewable energy applications). During this project research stays
of one PhD-researcher at MilieuCentraal office (4 months in total) will be instrumental for developing
an interactive web-site that will be the point of entrance for Dutch consumers seeking advice about
smart energy management.
Enexis:
Charlotte Kobus MSc & Else Veldman
[email protected]
Postbus 856
5201 AW `s-Hertogenbosch
06-11951704
Enexis, one of the main Dutch distribution network operators, is very active in the field of smart grids,
smart meters, demand response, energy saving and electrical mobility. For Enexis, it is highly
relevant to get a better insight in the development of consumption patterns and to participate in the
development of new products, services and E-practices in the expected transformation of the current
energy system. Research stays of one PhD researcher at Enexis (4 months in total) will help in
gathering data on consumer energy patterns and practices and to develop new consumer services.
Together with the prospective users, suppliers will co-design a range of products and services, while
at the same time those products and services can be tailored much better to the needs of a specific
lifestyle groups. For policy makers, it is important to get to know the new governance arrangements –
scientifically grounded and assessed by key stakeholders – relevant for the reduction of uncertainties
in E-practices related to smart grids.
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Ministry of Economic Affairs
Julia Williams-Jacobse en Erik ten Elshof
Directie Energie en Duurzaamheid
Ministerie van Economische Zaken
Bezuidenhoutseweg 73
Den Haag
[email protected], [email protected]
The Ministry of Economic Affairs is intensively involved in the development of smart grids in the
Netherlands. This project will give valuable insights for further policy development towards both
providers and domestic consumers.
3. Intellectual property, contracts and patents
N/A
7d Positioning of the project proposal
This project will be embedded in the running research programs and collaborations between
Environmental Policy Group Wageningen, DEMAND centre at Lancaster University and the
Technology, Innovation and Society Group of TU/e.
The Environmental Policy Group (ENP) has developed theory and published on social practices and
lifestyles since 2000. Since 2012, Spaargaren and van Vliet supervise a PhD researcher (Joeri Naus)
on Informational Governance and Smart Grids who studies social practices around smart metering as
well.
Since 1997 ENP has cooperated with the University of Lancaster (professor Shove) in Social Practices
research through a EC funded project, ESF funded Summerschools, a book project and various
workshops and conferences. Currently ENP is collaborating with DEMAND centre (Dynamics of
Energy, Mobility and Demand) at Lancaster, of which Shove is co-director. The centre has a research
agenda on demand management and radically reconfiguring infrastructures, buildings and transport
systems in line with greenhouse gas emissions targets. In focusing on how demand is made and met,
the Centre examines changing patterns in mobility and building-related energy use and take forward a
wide-ranging agenda for future research and policy. The centre started work in May 2013 and will
continue until 2018.
The centre offers a 3 months fellowship in Lancaster for one or two project participants. Also an
exchange period with a PhD student from DEMAND is envisaged during the project. A joint workshop
on smart grids and practices will be organised, in particular to involve non-academic partners of this
project and the DEMAND centre in Lancaster.
The Technology, Innovation and Society Group of TU/e has been involved in transition research from
2000 onwards. In particular Verbong has been the program leader of the TREIN- 1 and TREIN-2
projects (2007-2012) in cooperation with CPB, DNV KEMA, Alliander and the Department of Electrical
Engineering of TU/e. These projects explored and developed tools for designing real life experiments
with new energy systems.
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Call Uncertainty Reduction in Smart Energy Systems 2013
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8 Description of the proposed plan of work
03-2014
–
09-2014
Proposal
writing
Proposal
writing
PhD 1
PhD 2
PhD 1 and 2
internships at
Milieucentraal /
Enexis
Postdoc
project
Smart Energy
Platform
meetings
Study of Epractices
within themes
10-2014
–
02-2015
03-2015
–
09-2015
First
article
First
article
03-2016
–
09-2016
Second
article
Second
article
2 months
10-2016
–
02-2017
03-2017
–
09-2017
Third
article
Third
article
10-2017
–
03-2018
Thesis
defence
Thesis
defence
2 months
Theory
develop
ment
1,2,3,4
Coauthored
article
1,2,3,4
1,2,3,4
Coauthored
article
PhD 1,2
&
Postdoc
on case
analysis
Staff
Fellowship at
DEMAND
Survey set up
Survey n=500
Dissemination
workshops
Project
Website
Project
meetings
10-2015
–
02-2016
2 months
Article on
survey
results
October
October
October
October
9 Expected Use of Instrumentation
No instrumentation except for the use of computers and software for word processing, statistical
analysis and web design.
Word count sections 7, 8 and 9 = 4970
10 Scientific output and deliverables
Scientific output
V
Output
Number
Articles in refereed journals
9
Expected year of
publication
2015, 2016, 2017,
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Call Uncertainty Reduction in Smart Energy Systems 2013
Social Sciences
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2018
□
□
□
V
V
V
□
Articles
in
non-refereed
journals
Books
Book chapters
Dissertation
Conference papers
Professional publications
Other scientific output
2
4
4
2018
2016, 2017
Deliverables
Please indicate the non-scientific (e.g. cultural, social, policy-related, technological or economic)
output in the table below. You can tick one or more boxes. You can add other deliverables, resulting
from the project, to the list.
□
□
□
Deliverables
Number
Professional publications in
(a.o) Utilities, Milieu (VVM)
Publications aimed at
general public: in (a.o.)
Newsletters and websites of
Enexis and MilieuCentraal,
Ministry Economic Affairs
Update of website
energieverbruiksmanagers.nl
at MilieuCentraal
4
Expected year of
publication
2015, 2016, 2017
4
2014, 2015, 2016,
2017
1
2014, 2015
11 Literature
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