Background
In Norway there is an ongoing electrification of various sectors that involves extensive changes in policy and technology. There are constantly new questions arising that are crucial in the transition to a low-emission society, and it has become clear that households will play a central role.
A new grid tariff was introduced on July 1, 2022, providing economic incentives for consumers to shift their electricity usage to times when electricity demand is low. The new grid tariff aims to evenly distribute the load on the electricity grid to prevent overloading. Additionally, in a time where electricity prices have skyrocketed, energy-efficient measures in the home are becoming increasingly relevant. Electricity is behind many energy-intensive tasks, such as heating and hot water.
Consumers are expected to implement these changes. They are supposed to adopt energy-efficient measures or shift their consumption to times when the grid is least burdened. It is therefore important to gain insight into how these changes distribute burdens and benefits in society. Are some people better off than others, and if so, are there any changes that need to be made?
About the project
This project examines the room for maneuvering different households in Greater Oslo have to adapt to changes resulting from the green shift.
The project will map out the opportunities households have to be energy-flexible or energy-efficient by examining the routines that make up their electricity usage habits.
- Energy flexibility refers to the ability of individuals to shift everyday routines such as cooking dinner, showering, or doing laundry to earlier or later times.
- Energy efficiency can involve the use or installation of new electrical appliances that reduce electricity consumption, and it can be installing solar panels or improving insulation in the home.
I plan to interview around 40 people with different occupational backgrounds about how electricity fits into their daily routines at home. Depending on one's job, earnings vary, different educational paths have been chosen, and workdays have different demands in terms of working hours and tasks. With different starting points, and possibly different electricity usage routines – what does this mean for a Norwegian society undergoing an electrification transition?
Information collection through interviews is the first phase of the project. In phase two, the plan is to use questionnaires that can reach a larger number of people. These data can be used to test some of the causal relationships that emerge in the interviews.
The project is part of the research center Include and is led by Eivind Hjort Matthiasen at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute. Supervisors are Magne Flemmen at the University of Oslo and Tor Håkon Jackson Inderberg at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute.
Duration
2021-2025