Domestication of Small-Scale Renewable Energy Systems:A Case Study of Air Heat Pumps, Residential Micro Wind Stations and Solar Thermal Collectors in Finland

1. Domestication of Small-Scale Renewable
Energy Systems:
A Case Study of Air Heat Pumps, Residential
Micro Wind Stations and Solar Thermal
Collectors in Finland
Jouni K. Juntunen
Ph.D. Student, Aalto University, School of Economics
2.12.2011 EcoDesign 2011 Kyoto

2. Overview
• Background
• Domestication Framework
• Domestication of Residential Energy Systems
• Discussion
• Conclusions

3. Background
• Energy provision is based on
networked infrastructure and
centralized systems.
• Passive role of end-users.
• Low carbon solutions and rising
energy prices are changing local
residential energy consumption.
• Renewable energy is increasingly
produced locally on site.
• Requires technology adaptation,
learning of use and changes or
considerations in inhabitants’ daily
life.

4. Domestication Framework
• Originated in large part from • Mainly used with ICT
anthropology and consumption technology
studies. • 4 Dimensions
• Represented a shift away from (Silverstone, Hirsch, and
models, which assumed the Morley 1992):
adoption of new innovations to 1. Appropriation
be rational, linear, monocausal 2. Objectification
and technologically determined.
3. Incorporation
• Takes into account diversity
and complexity of everyday life 4. Conversion
and technology’s place within
its dynamics, ritual, rules and
routines.

5. Research question
What kind of domestication processes are
involved with residential sustainable energy
production and use?

6. Data and Methods
• Semi structured in-depth interviews.
• Residential houses and summer
cottages.
• The data includes 3 air heat pump
cases, 3 solar thermal collector cases
and 2 micro wind cases.
• Qualitative study.
• Data sets from Internet forums,
interviews and observations.

7. Appropriation
Motivations
• Economical reasons
• Convenience
– Combining renewable energy technologies with existing
systems can make system use more convenient overall
or help only in some parts of the year.
• Sustainability was not among main reasons to install
renewable energy technology.
• Changing motivations over time
– « When twins were teenagers, they wanted to have
television in the summer cottage and solar panel was
then installed. Later on I installed also wind generator to
extend power availability for darker period on autumn ».

8. Objectification and incorporation
Air heat pump
• Placing of system requires careful
consideration
• Relatively silent with reservations
Solar Thermal Collector
• Clearly visible on the roof but not
considered disturbing
Micro-Wind
• Suitable location is not always the highest
position

9. Examples of micro innovations,
adaptations and configuration
• In solar thermal collectors performance is not
optimal early spring or late autumn
– Improved performance with additional valves
• Air heat pump improved temperature metering
accuracy
– In a room with high ceiling reconfigurations
– Installation of extension cord for for sensor
• Air heat pump winter maintenance
– In Nordic climate winter is causing maintenance
need
– Plastic sledge is used to collect ice below the
unit and make the removal of ice easier

10. Conversion
• Power system discourse and • Most advanced users changing
importance of payback time: thinking from energy
– Happens in case of independence towards utilization
technologies with production of grid:
capabilities. – Smart grip opportunity.
« When do you get your money back? « Before I was dreaming about
When are these solar collectors paying organizing a celebration where
themselves back? Is this profitable big tongs are used to cut lines to
system? I doubt that in normal the national power grid. Now I
renovations people need to answer dream about solar panels that are
similar questions: “when is your connected via inverters to the
satellite antenna paying back, or grid».
swimming pool, or roof window ? »

11. Discussion:
From trials to trust
• Evolutionary, not revolutionary:
– Users are not seeking for radical one solution that fixes
whole system and all previous problems.
• Users want to see what new technology is capable
of:
– Further changes and energy system investments are done
later on.
• New technology is not fully replacing old systems:
– Acquired to support existing system, work with it and make
it more cost efficient or convenient in use or both.

12. Discussion:
Intertwined energy production and
consumption in domestic space
• Household as site of both production and
consumption.
• Partial departure from consumption
studies approach.
• Users now have the possibility to
produce their own power, but they still
face difficulties when trying to resell extra
power generated back to the grid.
• Value of national distribution network
seen from new direction.

13. Conclusions
• All 4 domestication processes are present and framework can be
applied to residential renewable energy systems.
• A better understanding of the role of end-users in processes of
technology diffusion could help the development of environmentally
friendly final products and enhance the adoption rate of these
technologies and lifestyles.
• Modularity of design should be high on manufacturers agenda.
• Study of domestication creates knowledge for future purposes when
smart grid becomes available.

14. ありがとう ございます