URSES - Realizing the smart grid: aligning consumer behaviour with technological opportunities

Reliable scenarios for consumer adoption and use of smart energy systems (SES) are essential to secure stability of the grid. The envisioned benefits of SES will only be realized if consumers (1) adopt smart energy technologies, and (2) use these technologies in a way that is aligned with energy system reliability, efficiency, and sustainability. However, the energy behaviour of consumers has proven difficult to influence and is a major source ofuncertainty in the development of smart energy systems. This project therefore addresses the question: Which individual factors predict, explain, and influence consumer adoption and use of smart energy technologies that will result in a reduction of uncertainty in smart energy systems? This links the adoption of smart energy technologies to the use of these technologies through the theoretical concept of environmental self-identity. Furthermore, the empirical analysis of factors influencing adoption and use are combined with unique detailed data about the current diffusion and use of different smart energy technologies (including electric vehicles and solar panels), and data about the electricity network to construct evidence-based SES development scenarios from the bottom-up and to come to evidencebased recommendations for SES development both for stakeholders and policymakers.

Main project

This project is part of project "Spill-over of initial pro-environmental actions to other pro-environmental behaviours".

Researchers and partners

Behavioural and Social Sciences, Psychology

• Linda Steg, Social Psychology
• Annemijn Peters, Social Psychology

Partners outside of the University of Groningen

• Floor van Alkemade - TU Eindhoven
• Mart van der Kam - University of Utrecht
• Wilfried van Sark - University of Utrecht
• Marko Hekkert - University of Utrecht

Education

Selection of BA and MA student projects

• A feeling of doing well can lead to doing better: development of a stronger
• environmental self-identity

Results

Successful grant proposals and other achievements

• URSES call NWO

University's focus areas

• Energy