Abstract
This study investigates the factors influencing the diffusion of residential photovoltaic systems. Factors examined are related to social attributes, such as population structure and living environment within neighborhoods and those close by, together with a neighbor effect revealed as a positive spatial dependency of the diffusion. To examine these factors simultaneously, the study applies a spatial econometric analysis, taking advantage of the availability of cumulative data on installed residential photovoltaic systems and census-based social attributes in about 4000 census blocks in Kyoto City, which include 1.47 million people. Results include: (1) an observed neighbor effect, especially between census blocks within a radius of 1000 m; (2) evidence that diffusion is positively influenced in a census block by lower population density and higher number of household members, as well as by lower ratios of detached houses and lower population densities in nearby census blocks; and (3) indication that diffusion is positively influenced by a higher proportion of young people through various mechanisms. To further facilitate the diffusion, implementing non-economic measures designed in light of the observed neighborhood influences is recommended, in addition to conventional economic support measures.
Highlights
1.1 Background and literature reviewVarious solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems are currently available, ranging from residential to utility-scaled
The analyses conducted in this study found that, in addition to economic factors, a lower population density, high proportion of young people, larger number of household members, and fewer years living at the same address were demographic and living environmental factors that enhanced the diffusion ratio of PV systems
This study conducted a regression analysis based on a spatial econometric model using the census-block level number of residential installations of PV systems and social attributes, following a preliminary panel data analysis of the extent of economic influences on system adoptions using the ward-level data in Kyoto City
Summary
1.1 Background and literature reviewVarious solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation systems are currently available, ranging from residential to utility-scaled. Most published studies have explained the diffusion ratio of PV systems in municipal areas statistically, based on areal attributes such as: natural attributes such as amount of solar radiation; social attributes, such as the density and age of the population; and economic attributes, such as income level and subsidies for system installation (Li et al 2012). Recent examples of such studies include Yoshida (2012) and Kwan (2012), who focus on solar radiation conditions as an explanatory factor; Drury et al (2012) and Davidson et al (2014), who focus on population age structure; and Zhang et al (2011) and Nakata and Matsumoto (2014), who focus on system pricing, subsidies, and residents’ income level
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