Description:

The heating sector plays a key role in the energy transition, as it is one of the largest contributors to household carbon emissions. Despite the growing relevance of renewable energy, more than 70% of heating in Germany still relies on fossil fuels. With the electrification of heating—especially through the deployment of heat pumps—the stability of the electricity system increasingly depends on the flexible use of electricity in households. Demand-side flexibility, particularly in the form of heating demand response, is a promising and cost-efficient alternative to grid expansion. However, household participation in flexibility programs remains limited. This thesis conducts a structured literature review to examine which behavioral, financial, or technical mechanisms are effective in activating households to participate in heating flexibility or demand response programs. The review systematically analyzes treatment types, effect sizes, measurement approaches, and duration of impact, including fade-out or post-treatment effects. Additionally, the thesis compares studies across different contexts (e.g., country, sample size, program design) to identify best practices and transferable insights.

Objectives:

• Systematically identify and classify mechanisms used to activate household participation in heating flexibility or demand response programs.
• Evaluate the effectiveness of these mechanisms by comparing reported effect sizes, durations, and measurement approaches.
• Analyze contextual factors influencing the success of interventions, including country, sample size, and program complexity.
• Derive practical recommendations and best practices for designing effective flexibility programs in the heating sector.

Formalities:

The thesis can be undertaken in German or English. The project is ready to commence immediately.

Introductory Literature:

[1]: Tiefenbeck, V., Wörner, A., Schöb, S. et al. Real-time feedback promotes energy conservation in the absence of volunteer selection bias and monetary incentives. Nat Energy 4, 35–41 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0282-1

[2]: Lomas, K. J., Allinson, D., Watson, S., Beizaee, A., Haines, V. J., & Li, M. (2022). Energy savings from domestic zonal heating controls: Robust evidence from a controlled field trial. Energy and Buildings, 254, 111572.

[3]: Agarwal, R., Garg, M., Tejaswini, D., Garg, V., Srivastava, P., Mathur, J., & Gupta, R. (2023). A review of residential energy feedback studies. Energy and buildings, 290, 113071.