Abstract
Transitioning to cleaner modes of electricity production requires a major uptake of renewable technologies, including solar photovoltaic (PV). However, the uptake has been spatially uneven within countries and requires more exploration. We analyse the spatial pattern of solar PV growth in Switzerland (76′587 PV projects) by quantifying the features of socio-technical regimes at a subnational level. We combine the multi-level perspective (MLP) framework with the literature on solar PV adoption to select 36 quantitative indicators at the level of 2′212 municipalities. Using principal component analysis and cluster analysis, each municipality’s socio-technical regime is quantitatively assessed and municipalities with similar regime features are clustered together. We find nine clusters of municipalities with different socio-technical regimes and different rates of solar PV uptake. Specifically, solar PV uptake is greater in clusters with more prevalent techno-scientific knowledge and market dimensions of the MLP, in particular agricultural activities, higher education institutions, and innovation activities. Within each cluster, we identify extreme outliers (i.e. municipalities where solar PV is growing much faster) and further analyse them through a comprehensive Internet search. Our results suggest that, given the same national policy, different local actors, such as local authorities, energy companies, and devoted citizens, can accelerate PV uptake using various strategies based on local specificities. Building on these findings, we suggest that knowledge of regime configurations may provide additional tools to create context-specific strategies and more decentralized transformative policies to foster solar PV uptake.
Highlights
A transition to a cleaner production of electricity is one of the ele ments conveyed in future energy scenarios
Looking at the installed capacity normalised to the technical poten tial of rooftop PV, our results indicated that the exploited technical potential remained low, which suggested that most clusters could in crease their share of solar PV
What our results suggest is that there appears to be different regime configurations based on techno-scientific and market elements, mostly higher education, innovation, and agricultural activities, that could lead to solar PV uptake, with the help of various pressures exerted on the regime by the landscape and niche levels
Summary
A transition to a cleaner production of electricity is one of the ele ments conveyed in future energy scenarios. This implies expanding the uptake of renewable sources such as solar, wind, hydro power, and biomass [1,2,3], raising challenges in terms of understanding and accel erating such transitions [4,5,6]. The effectiveness of these policies does not appear straightforward as there is growing evidence that transitions to renewable energy sources are spatially uneven within countries [9,10,11,12], and that contextual and social aspects may be decisive for policy implementation [6,13,14,15,16].
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
