Projects per year
Abstract
This research explores socio-technical perspectives of the demand-side management strategy of using the built environment for short term thermal energy storage. Here conceptualised as a niche innovation within the Danish socio-technical district heating landscapes, the research explores potentials and limitations of this building energy flexibility strategy from the perspective of district heating sector professionals, actors at the centre of the low-carbon energy transitions. Results of the mixed-methods abductive research enquiry suggest that this energy flexibility strategy facilitates (I) solving local network congestion challenges in smaller parts of existing networks and (II) reduces needed network capacity in new heat supply areas. Sector professionals assess this (III) energy flexibility strategy as most practicable in large-scale/commercial buildings and industries. Challenges include hardware balancing, service and maintenance, and the sometimes counterproductive incentive structures among stakeholders involved. Research evidence suggests that business models appealing to environmental values and priorities may incentivise sustainable heat-use behaviours more than economic benefit alone among some groups of end users. Building energy flexibility and demand-side management strategies may become integral to future ‘smart’ energy systems throughout the world. However, their successful implementation necessitates understanding the local socio-technical dynamics involved. Multidisciplinary research approaches as the one taken here facilitate these necessary insights.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 124075 |
Journal | Energy |
Volume | 256 |
ISSN | 0360-5442 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Oct 2022 |
Keywords
- Niche technology
- Building energy flexibility
- District heating
- Demand-side management
- Socio-technical system
- Energy transition
- Behavioural economics
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IEA EBC Annex 84: Demand Management of Buildings in Thermal Networks
Marszal-Pomianowska, A., Johra, H. & Pereira, D. H. L. E.
01/09/2020 → 30/09/2025
Project: Research
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InterHUB: Intermittent Energy - Integrating Households, Utilities and Buildings
Gram-Hanssen, K., Heiselberg, P. K., Georg, S., Horsbøl, A., Andersen, P. V. K., Larsen, S. P. A. K., Johra, H., Caussarieu, M., Hansen, A. R., Johansen, K., Marszal-Pomianowska, A. & Christensen, L. L.
01/04/2018 → 30/09/2021
Project: Research
Research output
- 8 Citations
- 1 Journal article
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Thermal storage capacity in the entire building stock of Denmark for energy flexibility strategies and building-to-grid services
Johra, H., Goupy, M. & Wittchen, K. B., Jan 2024, In: REHVA Journal. 61, 1, p. 14-17 4 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Communication
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