Exploring the Role of Stakeholder Dynamics in Residential Photovoltaic Adoption Decisions: A Synthesis of the Literature

Fabian Scheller, Isabel Doser, Daniel Sloot, Russell McKenna and Thomas Bruckner
Additional contact information
Fabian Scheller: Energy Systems Analysis, Division of Sustainability, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
Isabel Doser: Institute for Infrastructure and Resources Management, Leipzig University, 04109 Leipzig, Germany
Daniel Sloot: Energy Economics, Institute for Industrial Production, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, 76131 Karlsruhe, Germany
Russell McKenna: School of Engineering, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
Thomas Bruckner: Institute for Infrastructure and Resources Management, Leipzig University, 04109 Leipzig, Germany

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 23, 1-31

Abstract: Despite the intensive research on residential photovoltaic adoption, there is a lack of understanding regarding the social dynamics that drive adoption decisions. Innovation diffusion is a social process, whereby communication structures and the relations between sender and receiver influence what information is perceived and how it is interpreted. This paper addresses this research gap by investigating stakeholder influences in household decision-making from a procedural perspective, so-called stakeholder dynamics. A literature review derives major influence dynamics which are then synthesized based on egocentric network maps for distinct process stages. The findings show a multitude of stakeholders that can be relevant in influencing photovoltaic adoption decisions of owner-occupied households. Household decision-makers are mainly influenced by stakeholders of their social network like family, neighbors, and friends as well as PV-related services like providers and civil society groups. The perceived closeness and likeability of a stakeholder indicate a higher level of influence because of greater trust involved. Furthermore, the findings indicate that social influence shifts gradually from many different stakeholders to a few core stakeholders later on in the decision-making process. These insights suggest that photovoltaic (PV) adoption may be more reliably predicted if a process perspective is taken into account that not only distinguishes between different stakeholders but considers their dynamic importance along the process stages. In addition, especially time- and location-bound factors affect the influence strength. This clearly shows the importance of local and targeted interventions to accelerate the uptake.

Keywords: low carbon technology adoption; social influence; decision-making process; residential photovoltaic; literature review (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (11)

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