Factors influencing household demand-side flexibility: The case of the StrømFleks pilot project

Abstract

Household demand-side flexibility plays a crucial role in integrating renewable energy to transit away from fossil fuels. The study investigates household behaviour and acceptance of demand-side flexibility using the StrømFleks pilot project in Porsgrunn, Norway, as the case study. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire to compare the participants with a group of non-participants. The Pearson chi-square, probit models and difference analysis are used to analyse the behavioural changes between the two groups. The empirical results show that the participating households have greater knowledge about flexible resources. Additionally, the participants demonstrate a higher willingness (85 per cent) to enter contracts to manage flexible resources compared to the control group (27 per cent). A flexible resource can be appliances, heating, water heaters and electric vehicles. These findings suggest that with knowledge and experience managing flexible resources, household demand-side flexibility can be utilised. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for attention to electric vehicle (EV) charging as a flexible resource, given that 70 per cent of the participants own an EV, but only 42 per cent charged off-peak. Economic incentives is a significant motivational factor, while societal, natural, and environmental factors play a role. Identified potential hindering factors include data and spatial privacy issues, as well as trust towards aggregators. Incentives to shift electricity consumption outside peak times are essential to free up grid capacity, and the study suggests the necessity for further pilot projects and more post-evaluations with scientific monitoring.

Household demand-side flexibility plays a crucial role in integrating renewable energy to transit away from fossil fuels. The study investigates household behaviour and acceptance of demand-side flexibility using the StrømFleks pilot project in Porsgrunn, Norway, as the case study. Primary data was collected using a questionnaire to compare the participants with a group of non-participants. The Pearson chi-square, probit models and difference analysis are used to analyse the behavioural changes between the two groups. The empirical results show that the participating households have greater knowledge about flexible resources. Additionally, the participants demonstrate a higher willingness (85 per cent) to enter contracts to manage flexible resources compared to the control group (27 per cent). A flexible resource can be appliances, heating, water heaters and electric vehicles. These findings suggest that with knowledge and experience managing flexible resources, household demand-side flexibility can be utilised. Furthermore, the study highlights the need for attention to electric vehicle (EV) charging as a flexible resource, given that 70 per cent of the participants own an EV, but only 42 per cent charged off-peak. Economic incentives is a significant motivational factor, while societal, natural, and environmental factors play a role. Identified potential hindering factors include data and spatial privacy issues, as well as trust towards aggregators. Incentives to shift electricity consumption outside peak times are essential to free up grid capacity, and the study suggests the necessity for further pilot projects and more post-evaluations with scientific monitoring.