Using Behavioral Insights to Increase Energy Demand Flexibility in High-Emitting Countries

The objective of this project is to scale and test behavioral interventions that improve household-level demand flexibility in several high-income and high-emission countries. A secondary project objective is to reduce overall household energy demand. More specifically, the project team aims to accomplish these goals by: 1) encouraging customers to switch to time-of-use tariffs where available, 2) shifting energy use habits so that less is consumed during peak hours, and 3) increasing the take-up of technologies that promote demand flexibility, such as batteries and other types of energy storage. The project builds on research conducted by Robert Metcalfe and coauthors on how social nudges can be used to shift and reduce energy consumption. The Users TCP, a Technology Collaboration Programme under the umbrella of the International Energy Agency, will co-fund and manage the project. Member governments of the Users TCP will support the project team by establishing relationships with local implementing partners, such as utilities and energy communities. One key project output will be an accessible guidebook for governments and utilities on best practices for promoting behaviors that enable greater demand flexibility.