AN EXPLORATION OF THE ENERGY JUSTICE IMPLICATIONS OF DOMESTIC DEMAND SIDE RESPONSE

Abstract

Economies globally are grappling with the challenge of how to guarantee affordable and secure energy supplies whilst simultaneously decarbonising. Increasing system flexibility through the adjustment of energy demand is deemed integral to this aim, with potentially wide-ranging benefits. Managing demand so it plays a role in system balancing, by reducing or increasing consumption, has broadly been termed demand-side response. This thesis focuses on an exploration of the, often missing, normative implications of the wide-scale rollout of demand-side response mechanisms in the domestic sphere. It does this by reporting findings from an integrative review, the exploration of a case study of the lived experience of participants in a heat-pump with demand-side response trial, a cross-case comparison of different DSM pilots, and a normative reflection of findings from quantitative analysis of heat pump consumption. Using a theoretical lens of energy justice, this thesis finds and explores the strength of evidence of potential risks and opportunities for the domestic energy consumer within an energy future that incentivises ‘shifting energy use in time, space and/or intensity’ (Powells and Fell, 2019). Specifically, the overarching thesis aim is to identify how the provision or non-provision of flexible electricity consumption in different contexts may influence existing injustice such as the existing inability for all households to access necessary energy, whilst diagnosing where new forms of energy injustice may arise. In addition, it has a secondary aim to offer suggestions on how to mitigate these injustices. The thesis takes the form of an ‘alternative format’. Each results section, therefore, takes the form of an independent paper, containing its own literature review, method, results and discussion. A thesis introduction and discussion provide a top and tail to show how each paper contributes to meeting the thesis aim, and to explore the holistic academic contribution of the thesis in totality. Overall, this thesis finds strong evidence that the provision or non-provision of flexible electricity consumption will affect households differently, with some households at risk of being unable to meet their energy needs. It presents how domestic demand-side response mechanisms may influence existing injustices or create new injustices at the whole systems level and household level. Potential distributive, recognition and procedural justice implications are brought forwards. These are found to stem from the unequal levels of energy deemed necessary for different households, the unequal ability of households to engage in this new energy future, and the unequal ability to provide ‘flexibility’. These are each affected by the materiality of housing infrastructure, characteristics of individuals and scheme design and implementation. These findings are of particular concern if no pre-emptive measures are taken to reduce these injustices.

Date of Award	31 Dec 2023
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	The University of Manchester
Supervisor	Sarah Mander (Supervisor), Dana Abi Ghanem (Supervisor) & Ruth Wood (Supervisor)