The Impact of Socio-economic Factors on the Perception towards Solar Energy
Journal of Energy Research and Reviews,
Page 1-18
DOI:
10.9734/jenrr/2022/v11i430283
Abstract
Solar Energy is an upcoming solution to one of the world’s biggest problems: The lack of clean energy. This research paper focuses on understanding the factors that influence the perception of Indian respondents toward solar energy, in order to fill in the gap in the data regarding how basic socio-economic factors such as age, education, and income level can influence one's thoughts towards solar energy. This is a mixed-method study that aims to draw relations and trends between the above-stated factors and the perceptions of the respondents. It was concluded after analyzing a dataset of 140 respondents(middle Class and upper-class respondents from Metropolitan cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai, and Lower Class respondents from Kishangargh Village, New Delhi), from different income and education levels, that there was a positive relationship between education level and awareness as well as income and likelihood of adoption. Other factors such as age and gender of the respondents have also been taken into account in the study. The age of the respondents had a positive relationship with their perception of solar energy, Whereas gender showed no relation with the perception of the respondents.
Keywords:
- Solar energy
- solar technology
- sustainability
- consumer behavior
- socioeconomic background
- electricity
- sustainability goals
- income level
- education and awareness
How to Cite
References
Available:https://www.energy.gov/
Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India; 2021.
Available:www.mnre.gov.in/solar/current-status/
IRENA(International Renewable Energy Agency); 2021.
Available:www.irena.org/solar
Sovacool BK. What are we doing here? Analyzing fifteen years of energy scholarship and proposing a social science research agenda. Energy Research & Social Science. 2014;1:1-29.
Aklin M, Bayer P, Harish SP, Urpelainen J. Economics of household technology adoption in developing countries: Evidence from solar technology adoption in rural India. Energy Economics. 2018;72:35-46.
Balta-Ozkan N, Yildirim J, Connor PM, Truckell I, Hart P. Energy transition at local level: Analyzing the role of peer effects and socio-economic factors on UK solar photovoltaic deployment. Energy Policy. 2021;148:112004.
Masini A, Menichetti E. Investment decisions in the renewable energy sector: An analysis of non-financial drivers. Technological Forecasting and Social Change. 2013;80(3):510-524
Rai V, Reeves DC, Margolis R. Overcoming barriers and uncertainties in the adoption of residential solar PV. Renewable Energy. 2016;89:498- 505.
Stryzhak O. The relationship between education, income, economic freedom and happiness. In SHS Web of Conferences. EDP Sciences. 2020;75:03004.
Bauner C, Crago CL. Adoption of residential solar power under uncertainty: Implications for renewable energy incentives. Energy Policy. 2015;86:27-35
-
Abstract View: 388 times
PDF Download: 49 times