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Danish PV Prosumers’ Time-Shifting of Energy-Consuming Everyday Practices

Author

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  • Kirsten Gram-Hanssen

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University Copenhagen, 2450 Copenhagen SV, Denmark)

  • Anders Rhiger Hansen

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University Copenhagen, 2450 Copenhagen SV, Denmark)

  • Mette Mechlenborg

    (Department of the Built Environment, Aalborg University Copenhagen, 2450 Copenhagen SV, Denmark)

Abstract

Consumer engagement in the energy system is necessary to ensure a low-carbon transition. However, this has proved difficult because consumers are engaged in pursuing everyday practices rather than focusing on abstract questions of energy. Recent studies have suggested that being a prosumer can make a difference. This paper builds on survey data from a representative sample of 2505 photovoltaic (PV) owners in Denmark combined with 12 qualitative in-depth interviews. The results indicate that PV owners consider that they have become more concerned about energy consumption and adjust the timing of their everyday practices to their production. Thus, 67% of the households ‘often’ or ‘always’ time-shift the use of washing machines to their production. The extent to which households time-shift is strongly related to their net-metering scheme. Thus, 75% of the households on hourly metering stated that they ‘to some’ or to ‘a great extent’ adjust their consumption, compared to only 26% of the households on annual metering. This financial effect is interpreted in an everyday life context where financial gain transfers meanings of self-sufficiency and sustainability, rather than primarily being viewed as rational economic behaviour. The conclusion discusses the policy implications of methods to engage the consumer.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsten Gram-Hanssen & Anders Rhiger Hansen & Mette Mechlenborg, 2020. "Danish PV Prosumers’ Time-Shifting of Energy-Consuming Everyday Practices," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-19, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:10:p:4121-:d:359626
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    3. Gianluca Trotta & Kirsten Gram-Hanssen & Pernille Lykke Jørgensen, 2020. "Heterogeneity of Electricity Consumption Patterns in Vulnerable Households," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    4. Pérez-Sánchez, Laura À. & Velasco-Fernández, Raúl & Giampietro, Mario, 2022. "Factors and actions for the sustainability of the residential sector. The nexus of energy, materials, space, and time use," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    5. Nyström, Sofie & Börjesson Rivera, Miriam & Katzeff, Cecilia, 2024. "Households as part of the solution - Examining Swedish policy expectations on demand response in households," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    6. Ovidiu Ivanov & Bogdan-Constantin Neagu & Gheorghe Grigoras & Florina Scarlatache & Mihai Gavrilas, 2021. "A Metaheuristic Algorithm for Flexible Energy Storage Management in Residential Electricity Distribution Grids," Mathematics, MDPI, vol. 9(19), pages 1-17, September.
    7. Hansen, Anders Rhiger & Jacobsen, Mette Hove & Gram-Hanssen, Kirsten, 2022. "Characterizing the Danish energy prosumer: Who buys solar PV systems and why do they buy them?," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).

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