Exploring Residents' Attitudes toward Solar Photovoltaic System Adoption in China

Abstract

As the world's largest energy consuming country, China is facing environmental deterioration, which results from the overuse of non-renewable conventional energy such as coal. Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, an unlimited and clean energy with minimal impacts on the environment, is considered a good alternative to alleviate this severe issue. A survey was designed and conducted among residents in some major cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Nanchang, and Guangdong. Based on the first-hand data, basic statistical methods were utilized to examine Chinese urban residents' knowledge, concerns, and attitudes about solar PV adoption. The research aimed to identify the drivers and dynamics that most encourage customers to install solar PV systems in their residential buildings. The data suggest that the factors that could increase solar PV adoption are (a) reduced costs, (b) practical government incentives, (c) desire to reduce fossil fuel usage, and (d) education to increase awareness of solar PV systems. This research empirically assesses the impacts of the adoption of solar PV systems on various socio-economic groups.