Prosumers and smart grid technologies in Denmark: developing user competences in smart grid households

This study investigates changes in the management of owned domestic cats (Felis catus) in a rural area of Denmark, at two points in time separated by 24 years. Households in a 47 km2 area, and on 23 farms near this area, were presented with the same questionnaire in 1998 and in 2022. Additional data about the number of cats earmarked/microchipped and registered in 1998 were provided by two cat registers. The study population was compared to other rural areas in Denmark using data collected in 2021 from a nationwide probability survey of cat owners. The study area was found to represent rural areas in Denmark well. From 1998 to 2022, our study found a slight drop in the total number of owned cats. There was a major shift away from cats living on farms; this was true both of full-scale farms (that is, farms from which the farmer makes a living) where the number of cats decreased by two-thirds between 1998 and 2022 compared to 1998; and on hobby farms, where the number halved over the period. However, the number of cats living in residential homes nearly doubled, and, correspondingly, there was also a significant increase in the proportion of cats with indoor access. Cat owners have increasingly adopted measures to manage their cats, including much higher proportions of cats being spayed and castrated (there was an increase from 61% to 98% among male cats with indoor access and from 13% to 70% among male cats without indoor access). There was, also, a major increase in cats that have been earmarked/microchipped and registered, rising from 8% to 64%. This change in owner behaviour has led to many fewer unwanted kittens being born and subsequently killed. The findings therefore provide evidence of changing rural human-cat relationships, with rural cat owners increasingly managing their cats in the same way as urban cat owners. Our findings also help to explain recent evidence that the number of unowned cats in Denmark is much lower than previously assumed.

Rural areas increasingly face a raft of societal economic, social and place-based challenges, which civil society potentially has a role to play in mitigating. However, there are gaps in extant knowledge as to whether policy networks are present in rural areas and if they are, what, if any, role civil society plays in these in seeking to mitigate societal challenges in rural areas. Initially, we show how the societal challenges of rural areas may be addressed through policy networks. Policy network theory guides our analysis in eight rural areas in Denmark. The analysis is based on semi-structured interviews with 38 local stakeholders from in- and outside civil society. Based on the literature reviewed, we establish four dimensions that are important for the success of policy networks in mitigating societal challenges. In our analysis, we focus on these four dimensions in assessing the presence and role of policy networks in rural areas. The four dimensions describe the extent to which 1) collaboration occurs amongst a wide selection of representatives from civil society, other local stakeholders and local government, 2) steering from local government is characterized by ‘strategic signposting’ and trust, 3) local stakeholders are invited early into decision-making processes and influence them and 4) a mutual resource dependency is observed. We conclude by discussing to what extent the type of policy network found is able to mitigate the pressing societal challenges of rural areas and, finally, we make recommendations for how to support civil society in contributing to the mitigation of these societal challenges at three levels (local government, associations and citizens).

The accelerating impacts of climate change, the need to adapt to changing economic and political realities, and the recent energy crisis have made the green transition something that most Nordic citizens acknowledge. However, especially rural areas and their communities are at risk of being reduced to passive instruments of national green transition measures featuring heavy land-use. These conditions make it very difficult to create a sense of justness in green transitions, leading to growing sense of alienation and resentment and putting the national climate goals in danger. From this starting point, the case studies of the research project “Just Green Transition on Rural Areas: Local Benefits from Value Creation” set out to examine what kind of benefits would generate value from green transition measures in the direct impact zone of new energy projects. The case studies took place in three Nordic countries and six locations: in Northern Ostrobothnia and Northern Central Finland of Finland, involving wind power and land use planning; in Nord-Fron and Nord-Odal in Norway, involving both wind power and strategic sustainability work; and in Skive and Bornholm of Denmark, involving a hybrid mix of renewable energy sources in the context of industrial park development. The results highlight the importance of local involvement and trust in green energy transitions in Nordic rural areas. Neglecting local needs can cause resistance to renewable projects. Early engagement, transparent communication, and ensuring local benefits are vital. While monetary benefits attract attention, relying solely on them can create community divisions. A blend of community engagement, environmental benefits, and local ownership of projects fosters trust and a deeper sense of justice in these transitions.

Retrospective Study of Lichen Lead Accumulation in the Northeastern United States

Approaching to the Smartest technological use the whole world is being aware of using the smartest technology of generating and distributing power throughout the country in a simple but effective system. Smart Grid technology is providing with this unique feature. A lot of features make it possible to differentiate the Smart Grid from the existing traditional grid in various manners. This paper basically focused on the Smart Grid (SG) technology. A technology that has let us dreamt about solution of maximum power problems including generation to distribution ends. In this time of technological advancement where all the governments are facing challenges of meeting the power demand of the consumers, smart grid can bring harmony in demand supply ratio. In this paper a brief detail about Smart Grid Technology, its application has been discussed.

Much interest is given to attracting new settlement in rural, peripheral areas due to long-term population loss. The ideal type of settler is identified as families with young children. However, various studies on rural migration show that migrants are a mixed group of young, middle aged and older couples and individuals as well as families with children. A large part of the migrants have jobs while other are unemployed or on other types of social welfare. In a Danish context a key hypothesis is that especially welfare recipients and those outside the labour market settle in rural, peripheral areas due to low housing prices. This article explores which groups of people move to rural areas in Denmark and why they chose to do so.

A new methodology and web calculator, known as the emissions quantification tool (EQT), are designed to estimate the emissions impacts of a growing range of specific smart grid technologies and project types. Significant CO2, NOx, and SO2 reductions are possible with these technologies, but results are highly context dependent. This transparent, modular, reproducible, and publically accessible screening tool draws on well-vetted methodologies from trusted sources and allows comparison of possible and completed smart grid project impacts by diverse stakeholders. The live web calculator and full documentation are available at http://eqt.pnnl.gov.

There is a growing interest in 'smart grid' technologies in both industry and academic circles. Few attempts have been made to develop a written specification consummated with standards agreed upon by members of both coteries, due to lack of government support. Utilities in the state of California are obligated, by state legislature, to create a more: efficient, reliable, and intelligent electric power system. This initiative along with Florida Power & Lighting's 'Smart Grid' pilot program has created a sense of exigency within the industry regarding smart grid technologies and standardizations. Their accomplishments are beginning to shape the policies and standards with marginal input from academic societies, ushering in a very lopsided, and business acclimatized set of standards. We will present and analyze, a SCE 'Smart Grid' use case, in which the utilities back office applications interact with the customer's meter, and provide technical recommendations for system security improvements.

Though the efficacy of the Clubhouse model's interventions and practices in supporting recovery from serious mental illness (SMI) have been demonstrated by prior research, the causal mechanisms and theory driving these outcomes have yet to be comprehensively defined. This theory article aims to synthesize existing knowledge of these methods to define a unified theory of social practice, outline its role in SMI recovery, and discuss future implications. Historical, theoretical, and practical foundations of social practice were synthesized to define a current theory of social practice and expand the term to apply to the methods and interventions that define the Clubhouse model. Based on prior theory and findings, we define social practice as "the informed application of a specialized form of environmental therapy that utilizes an intentional community to assist people in their recovery." Key facets of social practice in the Clubhouse model of SMI recovery are discussed, including the efficacy of the practice in addressing SMI outcomes such as isolation and low self-efficacy, as well as its impact on both internal and external motivational forces. The theory of social practice describes a process of engaging people to become collaborators and contributors to a social environment. This article describes the philosophy and practices of Clubhouses and introduces the theory of social practice as an empirical means of unifying and communicating the methods, practices, and outcomes of both the Clubhouse model and the broader implications of intentional community as therapy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

This article discusses the data obtained from an online survey of academic staff who are involved in module design and who are employed within one university. The survey was used as a baselining tool to explore the nature of current module design practice within the survey sample. Do academics consistently employ the pragmatic approaches recommended by educational developers and theorists or is module and curriculum development a more informally constructed process? By comparing the initial findings of this project with survey and interview data produced by evidence-based projects, this article suggests that module design practice is not set in stone and that we need a deeper analysis of the process of module and curriculum design in terms of social practice and socio-cultural theory in order to gain a deeper understanding of it.

Smart grid technologies are expected to increase system efficiency and reliability using advancement in automation, communication, computation, and optimization. Several control algorithms have been developed or enhanced for operation and control of smart distribution grid. In recent years, volt/var control (VVC) algorithms have been proposed for energy saving in distribution systems due to advancement provided by smart grid automation and control. VVC helps to lower distribution feeder voltage to decrease energy consumption. However, quantification of this impact is hard due to several external factors such as weather and end users' behavior. On the other hand, existing evaluation methods of VVC algorithms are either not suitable for long-term study or intrusive. This paper addresses these issues by proposing a new technique to estimate “distribution system demand without smart grid implementation” utilizing “data measured from system with smart grid implementation.” Interdependence of voltage and load is considered based on estimated load characteristic. Our key contribution is developing a method for quantifying the real-time energy saving of smart grid automation and control focused on VVC and implementing in an electric utility in eastern Washington, USA. The algorithm is developed using both commercial and open-source software.

There are many smart grid test beds in the world, and the combination of smart grid technologies in each test bed is somewhat different according to the needs of each country. Among several test beds, it seems that Korean case is the special reference because it was covered with full scale from transmission to customer, and all kinds of smart grid technologies were installed and tested in its test bed. In this paragraph, the readers may understand the draft of smart grid technology in Korea, the directions of smart grid filed application, and the results of smart power grid project.

This study systematically reviews the cybersecurity challenges in smart grid technologies and their implications for sustainable energy infrastructure. The primary objective is to analyze the vulnerabilities inherent in smart grids, evaluate existing cybersecurity measures, and propose strategic recommendations for enhancing security. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, this research scrutinizes peer-reviewed articles, technical reports, and standards documents published between 2014 and 2024. The methodology focuses on identifying cybersecurity threats, vulnerabilities, and mitigation strategies within smart grids, alongside exploring the role of standards, regulatory frameworks, and stakeholder responsibilities in enhancing grid security. Key findings reveal that while smart grids offer enhanced efficiency and reliability, they also introduce significant cybersecurity vulnerabilities due to the integration of ICT. Advanced cybersecurity measures, including encryption and real-time intrusion detection, are critical in safeguarding these infrastructures. The study underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among stakeholders and the development of comprehensive cybersecurity standards tailored to smart grid technologies. Finally, the future of smart grid cybersecurity presents both challenges and opportunities, with the potential for leveraging emerging technologies like blockchain and AI to enhance security measures. The study proposes several policy recommendations, including the enforcement of cybersecurity standards and the promotion of threat intelligence sharing. Conclusively, the research highlights the need for innovative security solutions and interdisciplinary research to bridge technical and policy-making domains, ensuring the secure and sustainable development of smart grid technologies. Keywords: Smart Grid Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities, Cybersecurity Measures, Sustainable Energy Infrastructure.

In theories of social practice, energy consumption is commonly understood to follow from social practices performed by humans. Yet smart home technologies and automation more broadly raise questions about this conceptualisation. This chapter rethinks theories of practice to include automated devices and systems not only as the material arrangements within which humans perform practices (following Schatzki), but as carriers and performers of practices. It takes a historical perspective to describe different types of smart home automation and their co-evolution with the performance of everyday practices. The chapter argues that by bringing Latour’s symmetrical anthropology into theories of practice, humans and non-humans can be included as part of both the material arrangements and as possible performers of practices.

Smart metering is advancing rapidly and consumption feedback from smart meters is expected to help residents to reduce their energy and water consumption. In recent years, more critical views have been expressed based on theories of social practice, arguing that smart meter feedback ignores the role of various mundane practices where energy and water are consumed and instead targets individuals as active decision-makers. We present a review of qualitative studies on smart meter feedback and results of a survey to European smart metering projects. We argue that theories of social practice can be used to reframe the challenges and potentials of smart meter feedback that have been identified in the literature and our survey. This presents challenges of smart meter feedback as resulting from normalised resource intensive practices rather than from uninterested and comfort-loving individuals. Potentials of improving the effectiveness of smart meter feedback relate to supporting communities and peer-learning and combining smart meter feedback with micro-generation of renewable energy. This has implications for how domestic energy and water consumption is targeted by policy.