Smart local energy systems

Smart energy technologies are an increasingly big part of modern life, but how do we ensure they work fairly for everyone?

Household and Community Labour in Smart Local Energy Systems project

This UKRI ESRC-funded project, a partnership between the 麻豆传媒社区入口, the Centre for Sustainable Energy and King’s College London, examines how households contribute vital - but often overlooked - work to make smart local energy systems successful.

This includes learning to work with new energy technologies such as smart energy meters and apps; adapting daily life in ways that reward demand flexibility, and seeking and providing support with technologies.

For updates and further information, please see the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s and pages.

Principal Investigator (PI): 

  • Our Objectives
    • Analyse care-work and labour contributions in SLES.
    • Identify potential inequalities in labout distribution.
    • Explore governance challenges around assest ownership and benefit sharing.
    • Develop evidence-based policy recommendations.
    • Contribute to social scientific theory in just energy transitions.
  • Our Research Methods
    • Interviews
    • Workshops
    • Focus groups
    • Innovative ethnographic methods, such as photovoice and diary keeping.
  • Engagement & Impact

    The researchers will engage with community energy organisations and households across the UK to understand how this 'hidden' work is distributed and valued. Through workshops, case studies and policy engagement, the project will develop practical tools for community groups and evidence-based recommendations for policymakers to ensure smart energy systems work fairly for everyone involved.

This research is funded by UKRI ESRC. Grant number: ES/Z503757/1