Data_Sheet_1_Rebound and Spillovers: Prosumers in Transition.docx

Generating energy by renewable sources like wind, sun or water has led to the emergence of “clean” energy that is generally available at low cost to the environment and is generated from seemingly unbounded resources. Many countries have implemented schemes to support the diffusion of renewable energies. The diffusion of micro-generation technologies like roof-top photovoltaics is one of the success stories within the energy transition and has been significantly driven—at least in countries such as Germany—by households. As these households usually not only generate energy but also consume it they are often called “prosumers.” How does it influence the energy behavior of households if they become prosumers? Are these behavioral changes in line with further goals of the energy transition, e.g., reducing demand? What shapes individual behaviors of prosumers? The paper introduces a conceptual framework based on the existing literature on rebound and spillover effects. It systematizes possible behavioral consequences as well as mechanisms behind them. This framework is then used to code and analyze data from 48 in-depth interviews with prosumer households. These interviews reveal a broad variety of behavioral responses which have their roots in economic conditions and their evaluation by the prosumers, psychological mechanisms like central guiding principles and a clear conscience as well as sociotechnical context and legislative frameworks.

以风能、太阳能或水能等可再生能源发电，催生了"清洁"能源——此类能源通常成本低廉、环境友好，且源自近乎取之不尽的资源。诸多国家已出台相关政策方案，以推动可再生能源的普及推广。屋顶光伏发电这类微型发电技术的普及，是能源转型进程中的成功范例之一，而其推广在德国等国家很大程度上得益于居民家庭的参与。由于这类家庭通常既发电又用电，因此常被称为"产消者（prosumer）"。当家庭转变为产消者后，会对其能源使用行为产生何种影响？这类行为变化是否契合能源转型的进一步目标，例如降低能源需求？又有哪些因素会塑造产消者的个体行为？本文基于现有关于回弹效应（rebound effect）与溢出效应（spillover effect）的文献，构建了一套概念框架，对可能出现的行为后果及其背后的作用机制进行了系统梳理。随后，该框架被用于对48户产消者家庭的深度访谈数据进行编码与分析。访谈结果显示，产消者存在多种多样的行为响应，这些响应的根源包括经济状况与产消者自身的评价、核心指导原则与坦荡良知等心理机制，以及社会技术环境与立法框架等因素。