Browsing by Subject "Solar PV"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3

Open Access
Household Solar Adoption: A Systematic Review
(2017-04-28) Girardeau, Hannah
The astounding scope of the global energy poverty challenge has motivated many organizations to provide solar energy solutions to lighting, heating, and cooking needs in off-grid settings. However, poorly designed or executed projects have the potential to cause unnecessary harm in communities lacking access to reliable energy. This review aims to identify and analyze the enabling environment factors that drive or block the diffusion, dissemination, and adoption of solar home systems, solar lanterns, solar hot water heaters, and solar cooking products in low-income countries. To address this question, I have conducted a systematic review to examine which factors support or complicate household solar adoption. I identified 43 studies in 25 countries that describe an environment including financial controls, market development, program mechanisms, and regulatory standards. At the household level, the cost of technology and quality of a product have the potential to greatly impact the success of a program. Customer support and ongoing maintenance increase the initiative’s sustainability and impact as customers continue using solar technologies in their daily lives. For programs, trainings and financing mechanisms provide customers with new platforms to address their energy needs and maintain agency over their household purchasing choices. Finally, regional market growth is encouraged when governments facilitate product testing and high quality standards. This complex and interconnected system of factors can either drive increases in households transitioning from harmful fuel usage to renewable energy or discourage communities from adopting the equipment under consideration. Although a number of studies fit the scope of this review, more research is needed to examine understudied locations, adjust the imbalances in the technologies studied, and address themes missing or underrepresented in this set of works on solar distribution models in low- and middle-income countries.
Open Access
SUSTAINABILITY CHOICES: IDENTIFY OPTIONAL TECHNOLOGY USING THE PECAN STREET SMART GRID DATABASE
(2015-04-24) Zhang, Xinxing
Effective measures for tackling climate change and the depletion of nature resources such as oil and natural gas are required, particularly in the residential sector. Varying in different countries, energy consumption of the residential sector accounts for 16–50% of that consumed by all sectors, and averages approximately 30% worldwide (Lukas G. Swan, 2009). This significant consumption level warrants leads researchers to have increasing interests in the real impact brought by renewable energy technologies and electricity pricing programs on electricity usage. A number of researches are conducted around this topic but most of them are not using real-time data to support their analysis. This report investigated the impact of solar, electric vehicles and demand response/time-of-use pricing programs on household electricity consumption using data collected by Pecan Street smart grid, which is one of the world’s largest energy database, from three different perspectives: 1) electricity savings 2) cost savings for utility 3) water savings for utility. Findings from this study suggest that all of the three approaches can lead to considerable savings for utility companies, and for consumers as well. The result of this report can be used as a strong and objective support in promoting renewable energy technologies and time-of-use pricing program.
Open Access
The Impact and Cost-Effectiveness of the Missouri Solar Rebate
(2012-04-26) Noble, Erin
Missouri receives more than 80% of its electricity from coal – more than two times the national average. Nearly all coal burned in Missouri power plants is imported from states such as Wyoming causing a $1.1 billion drain on Missouri’s economy. Historically, Missouri has been slow to expand the use of renewable energy. In 2005, Missouri received less than .01% of its electricity from renewables and ranked 49th in the country on renewable energy usage. In an attempt to increase the in-state development of renewable energy, Missouri advocates worked to pass a renewable electricity standard and solar rebate through a voter enacted initiative in 2008. In its first two years, the Missouri solar rebate created a 3400% increase in the amount of solar photovoltaic (PV) installed in Ameren and Kansas City Power and Light’s service territory. In those utility territories, PV capacity grew from 38 installations totaling 100 kilowatts in 2009 to 474 installs totaling 3500 kilowatts (3.5 megawatts) in 2011. The purpose of this report is to analyze the impact and cost-effectiveness of the Missouri solar rebate. The report also quantifies the clean air and economic benefits of the Missouri solar rebate with the goal of helping citizens and policymakers make informed decisions about the future of solar energy in Missouri.