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SUMMARY:The Social Life of Smart Grids - Professor Stephen Potter (Open Un
 iversity)
DTSTART:20130204T130000Z
DTEND:20130204T143000Z
UID:TALK43292@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Andrew Pruitt
DESCRIPTION:This will be based on the work that the Open University is und
 ertaking as part of the Western Power Distribution Project FALCON Smart Gr
 id project in Milton Keynes. “Smart Grid” systems are increasingly con
 sidered to be a critical component of a transition to a sustainable system
  of electricity production\, transmission and consumption. Smart Grid desi
 gns seek to avoid costly upgrades by sophisticated energy management at a 
 number of levels\, down to that of the individual home. This suggests that
  Smart Grids must involve a blended socio-technical approach and vision. \
 n\nYet in practice\, the ‘socio’ element receives little emphasis comp
 ared to the ‘technical’. There is a crucial issue of the role and acti
 ve participation of users and enablers in the design and emergence of Smar
 t Grid configurations as opposed to conceiving the user as a passive consu
 mer (albeit accepting that they need to be ‘educated’ to use the resul
 tant technologies). \n\nOur current research provides insights regarding t
 he way Smart Grid projects are constructed and the surprising partners who
  are now involved\, including a brewery and a community media organisation
 . Smart grids may well need smart partners and user inputs to succeed. \n
LOCATION:Room W2.01 Judge Business School
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