Three forms of energy prosumer engagement and their impact on time-shifting electricity consumption

Panel: 1. The dynamics of limiting (energy) consumption

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Authors:
Anders Rhiger Hansen, Aalborg University, Denmark
Mette Hove Jacobsen, Aalborg University, Denmark
Kirsten Gram-Hanssen, Aalborg University, Denmark
Freja Friis, Aalborg University, Denmark

Abstract

Focusing on households’ micro-generation, in this case solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, and the role as prosumers, this paper identifies three distinctive forms of engagement as energy prosumer.

These forms are based on responses to statements on being prosumer, and refer to becoming:

(1) more environmentally conscious,

(2) focused on own financial gain, and

(3) less concerned about electricity consumption.

By applying an ordered logistic regression, we investigate how these different types of engagement influence the self-stated tendency to time-shift electricity consumption according to peak loads in the energy system and to own electricity production.

We find that prosumers, who state that being prosumer make them more environmentally conscious, are more likely to time-shift electricity consumption according to peak demands in electricity grid as well as to own production. Prosumers, who express focus on own financial gain, seems more likely to time-shift according to own production, whereas prosumers, who state that they have become less concerned with own consumption, tend to time-shift less according to own production.

Furthermore, the results show that the accounting scheme (‘hourly or immediate accounting’ or ‘annual accounting’) has a strong impact on the tendency to time-shift. As could be expected, prosumers with hourly or immediate accounting, are much more likely to time-shift energy consumption to own production compared to prosumers with annual accounting.

This paper contributes with new knowledge on the extent to which having PVs, and being an energy prosumer, change and reconfigure the everyday practices of households.The findings suggest that how people see themselves as prosumers and engage in energy-consuming activities have an impact on the tendency to time-shift everyday electricity practices. Moreover, the results also problematize that the present available accounting scheme encourage prosumers to adjust everyday practices to own production, whereas from a system perspective, it would be more sustainable to adjust to the peak loads of the electricity grid.