Integration of smartgrid technologies in households A multisited

Integration of smart-grid technologies in households - A multi-sited case-study of changing social practices in the everyday life Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalborg University

Anthropological Field Methods | December 2014 1. 2. 3. 4. Background, Objectives and Research questions Methodological conciderations My empirical material 5 papers and 5 different analytical approaches? Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University

1. Background, Objectives and Research questions Background • a part of IHSMAG • aim: to reach the sustainable goals by getting more renewables into the energy system • challenges: to balance consumption and production in the energy system • solution: smart grid has the potential to balance fluctuation through intelligent demand management • demand of new consumption patterns – more flexibility • households have to be involved and engaged Aim To fill out the lack of integration of smart grid technologies in the end-user design Objectives and research questions A socio-geographical qualitative study on social practices, particular focusing on energy demand-practices, there constitution and the posibility for change Overall ? : How do Danish households integrate smart grid technologies into their everyday life? • how SG-technologies change social practices in households’ everyday? • households flexibility to postpone their energy demand? • how does system managers construct social change in the everyday life? • how is meaning constructed in the social? • how is EV-driving a matter of contextual conditions? Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University

2) Methodological conciderations Presentation of my case ‘Test-an-EV’ • an unique case…. Access to test-pilots and socio-economic information etc • the first selection of qualitative interviews A qualitative approach • social and geographical researcher, contextual knowledge • situational analysis > mapping as a tool to open the field (Adele Clark) • awareness of scientific position and normativity ( Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University

2) Methodological conciderations Field work and status • when? • where? • how? semi-structured interview technique (Kvale, Thagaard, Spradley) and focus group interviews (Halkier) Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University

My empirical material Qualitative methods Sample size Time Space Aim In-depth individual interviews with pilots 8 households Summer time Two small towns South of Jutland, Country side. At home In-depth knowledge on social practices in the everyday life Copenhagen, more urbanised surroundings. At working spaces Capture construction of meaning in the social Focus groups interviews with pilots 3 groups, 8 participants Winter time Follow the ‘sayings about their doings’ All first-adopters: huge engagement and interest in the EV technology Individual interviews: Project leader of Test-an-EV and the project manager (direct contact with the test-pilots) Individual interview: Danish Transport Authority (one of the main sponsors behind Test-an-EV) Participant observation Information meetings (EV handovers/delivering) ? to a survey Added some questions focusing on everyday life and practices to a quantitative survey 6

Selection: widest variation on socio-economic parameters 7

• 5 papers, 5 different methods and theroretical approaches? Et oversigtsskema…. Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University

Analytical approach Ph. D Student Freja Friis | Danish Building Research Institute | Aalbourg University