The Demand Response Technology Cluster: accelerating UK residential consumer engagement with time-of-use tariffs, electric vehicles and smart meters via digital comparison tools
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Carmichael, Richard
Gross, Robert
Hanna, Richard
Rhodes, Aidan
Green, Tim
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Cost-effectively decarbonising the power sector and household energy use using variable renewable energy will require that electricity consumption becomes much more flexible and responsive to constraints in supply and the distribution network. In recent years residential demand response (DR) has received increasing attention that has sought to answer, based on current evidence, questions about how much consumers will engage with DR. This paper critically reviews the evidence base for residential consumer engagement with DR and draws out several important limitations in it. We argue for a more action- oriented focus on developing practical strategies to enable and unlock greater loadshifting and consumer engagement with DR within a changing technology and regulatory context. A number of recommendations are put forward for accelerating UK consumer engagement with DR, presented under three broad strategies: (a) promote awareness of smart tariffs, smart meters and storage and automation behind-the-meter devices as mutually-supportive components within a common ‘DR technology cluster’; (b) deliver targeted support for adoption of electric vehicles and other storage and automation technologies; (c) enable and support informed adoption of DR-enabling products and services through ‘smarter’ digital comparison tools (DCTs), data portability, and faster, simpler switching. The interdependency between components within this DR technology cluster delivers efficiency but also poses a risk that one delayed component (e.g., smart metering) will hold-up policy and industry support for other components. The urgency of decarbonisation goals makes it necessary to push forward as many of these elements as possible rather than the pace being set by the slowest.
Date Issued
2021-04-01
Date Acceptance
2020-12-30
Citation
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2021, 139
ISSN
1364-0321
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Volume
139
Copyright Statement
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/people/r.carmichael
Subjects
Residential demand response
Smart meters
Time-of-use electricity tariffs
Digital comparison tools/price comparison websites
Electric vehicles
Technology cluster
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 110701
Date Publish Online
2021-01-21