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Technology and Social Participation: A Qualitative Study into how Ferroamp's Smart Solution can Increase Engagement in the Swedish Energy Transition

Efforts to combat climate change through limiting our greenhouse gas emissions (GHG),is the main driver of the energy transition and entail strategies to decarbonize the energy sector. However, these strategies come with various social and technical challenges whichare important to address, especially regarding emerging consumer participation in the system as producers and consumers i.e., prosumers. The aim of this study is to investigate how smart technical solutions can be better diffused to improve participation of consumers in the energy transition through building knowledge and direct engagement as prosumers. Similarly, this study aims to investigate if there is potential for such smart technical solutions to help improve social acceptance of renewables and smart meter devices which also support “prosumerism”, through exploring Ferroamp, and its unique smart solution modular system as an example in the Swedish context.  This study conducted three qualitative interviews, one with a solar seller who acts as a representative and interacts with a large consumer base as well as 2 customers of the Ferroamp system. These interviews led to conclusions regarding the opportunity of smart solutions to facilitate greater knowledge and participation in the Swedish Energy Transition; however, key challenges regarding technological awareness and economic knowledge of the consumer base remain, which has implications for actors trying to increase smart technology penetration in Sweden. Therefore, this study highlights the importance of increasing consumers’ technological awareness and better communicating economic benefits if we are to increase consumer acceptance, participation, and engagement in the energy transition moving forward.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:UPSALLA1/oai:DiVA.org:uu-448395
Date January 2021
CreatorsMeyers, Shaelyn
PublisherUppsala universitet, Institutionen för geovetenskaper
Source SetsDiVA Archive at Upsalla University
LanguageEnglish
Detected LanguageEnglish
TypeStudent thesis, info:eu-repo/semantics/bachelorThesis, text
Formatapplication/pdf
Rightsinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

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