IEA UsersTCP SLA 2.0: Inclusive and Community-Oriented Approaches to a Social License to Automate

Research Project, 2022 – 2024

The 'IEA UsersTCP SLA 2.0' (SLA2.0) project aims to develop in-depth knowledge and stakeholder-specific recommendations for granting a social license to automate within demand side management (DSM) programs. The focus is on new insights on how to engage diverse user groups with different consumption flexibility, as well as on how to engage energy communities in order to improve the reach of DSM solutions. In doing so, the project aims to:

Understand the role of gender and diversity factors in energy consumption flexibility and identify appropriate engagement approaches
Map the contribution potential of energy communities and other collaborative efforts to promote a social license to automate
Define markers of consumption flexibility based on load profiles and derive data quality criteria
To achieve this, following a literature review and common methodology definition, gender and diversity differences in consumption flexibility will be analysed within existing on use cases. With additional consideration of motivations, actionable energy literacy, energy practices and contextual factors they will be complemented by individual and collective engagement approaches to support the design of more inclusive designs of opportunities to participate.

Simultaneously, different types of energy communities will be grouped based on selected characteristics such as existing technologies and automation capabilities, legal forms, and community goals. Clusters identified this way will subsequently be analysed under involvement of stakeholder with regards to their contribution potential. Taking into account technical and social aspects, assessment will include other aspects such as security of supply and affordability.

Building on insights gained through these activities, consumption profiles will be analysed specifically in terms of consumption flexibility using existing data sets. Demographic markers for flexibility profiles will be derived, enabling the development of specifically tailored participation offers. In addition, data quality criteria will be defined for the detection of corresponding profiles via consumption data.

Gained insights will be synthesized and recommendations will be developed for different stakeholder groups.