S3C Panel: First Results and Discussion with Sister Project ADVANCED 

Behavioural / Social Science Panel: End-user Behaviour in Smart Grid Trials

In a new generation of Smart Grids projects, such as ADVANCED, S3C as well as many of their partner projects, the end-user takes center stage, as raising interest and consciousness for the low-interest topic energy and persuading them to change their routine behavior are complex endeavors. The experts of this panel will describe how their findings and experiences from their respective field relate to Smart Grids projects, energy and technology transitions in general and will discuss innovative ways for multi-disciplinary work on the topic and possible, potentially yet untested new approaches and solutions. How do different academic / theoretical disciplines relate to end-user engagement in Smart Grid projects? What can be learned from psychological, social marketing, sociological practice theory, etc.? How have such approaches been included in Smart Grid projects so far? What could be changed in the future to facilitate inter-disciplinary work on end-user engagement?

Furthermore, the event will include a field trip to the highly acclaimed inovcity test-site during which the participants of the conference will get a first-hand impression of how this project adressed and included its end-users. The guided tours will include demonstrations of the applied end-user equipment - which granted EDP the "Utility of the Year Award" at the 2012 edition of the "European Smart Metering Awards".