Making demand side response happen: a review of barriers in commercial and public organisations

Cardoso, C. 2020. Making demand side response happen: a review of barriers in commercial and public organisations . Energy Research and Social Science. 64 (2020), p. 101443. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101443

TitleMaking demand side response happen: a review of barriers in commercial and public organisations
TypeJournal article
AuthorsCardoso, C.
Abstract

The decarbonisation of electricity systems and the associated increase in variable generation sources requires an increase in power system flexibility. Demand side response (DSR) is widely viewed as a cost-effective source of flexibility, with considerable market potential. To date, the main DSR providers have been energy intensive firms. However, the expectation is that non-energy intensive consumers such as commercial firms and public sector organisations will also provide system flexibility. Despite its DSR potential, commercial and public organisations have received little attention in the literature. This paper helps address this gap by identifying and exploring barriers to the participation of large commercial firms and public sector organisations in DSR through a review of the academic and grey literature on DSR. Drawing on the literature on barriers to energy efficiency, we use concepts from orthodox and behavioural economics, organisational studies and social practice theory to frame our analysis. The article argues that barriers to participation in DSR exist at the level of the organisation and not only the site. For large commercial firms and public sector organisations, the combination of having small individual electricity loads and complex internal decision-making processes can hinder their uptake of DSR. The hidden costs of participation, issues of bounded rationality and what the energy is used for within different organisations also limit the firms’ ability to participate in DSR.

KeywordsDemand Response Demand Side Response (DSR) Flexibility Non-domestic sector Service sector
JournalEnergy Research and Social Science
Journal citation64 (2020), p. 101443
ISSN2214-6296
Year2020
PublisherElsevier
Accepted author manuscript
File Access Level
Open (open metadata and files)
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2020.101443
Web address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214629620300207?via%3Dihub
Publication dates
Published online07 Feb 2020
Published in printJun 2020

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/qy703/making-demand-side-response-happen-a-review-of-barriers-in-commercial-and-public-organisations


Share this

Usage statistics

56 total views
132 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.