NAVIGATING THE ENERGY TRANSITION: EVERYDAY PRACTICES WITH PHOTOVOLTAICS AND ENERGY FEEDBACK IN ISLAND COMMUNITIES

Photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly promoted as key technologies in the transition to renewable energy. However, their integration into everyday life involves more than technological adoption; it is highly contextualised and reshapes daily routines and social dynamics. This dissertation explores how households on the Aran Islands, Ireland, incorporate PVs into their practices, highlighting the interplay between material, social and contextual factors. Through ethnographic fieldwork, interviews, and energy monitoring, it examines how PVs influence energy use, the role of appliance-level feedback in shaping practices related to PV use, and the diverse ways households learn to navigate renewable systems in these island communities. The findings reveal that energy transitions are complex journeys, requiring attention to local contexts, social relations, and everyday practices.