TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers to adopting solar photovoltaic systems in Hong Kong
AU - Lo, Kevin
AU - Mah, Daphne Ngar Yin
AU - Wang, Guihua
AU - Leung, Michael K.H.
AU - Lo, Alex Y.
AU - Hills, Peter
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2018.
PY - 2018/8/1
Y1 - 2018/8/1
N2 - The adoption of solar photovoltaic systems is often constrained by various sociotechnical barriers. In this paper, we identify and differentiate barriers to photovoltaic among three groups of potential adopters in Hong Kong: individuals, businesses, and the public sector. A total of 55 interviews were conducted to collect the data for the study. The results indicate that the most important constraints were technical barriers such as space limitations and low energy output, followed by economic barriers such as high upfront costs and long payback periods. Furthermore, we found that individuals were the group most exposed to market, policy, and regulatory barriers and they had to contend with the highest number of barriers. Our analysis also illustrates that there was a close interrelationship between the barriers. For example, technical barriers, such as space limitations, could be overcome partially by addressing regulatory barriers. Based on the analysis, we formulate a number of policy recommendations. The results of this study could be useful to the government in its attempt to facilitate a sustainable energy transition in Hong Kong.
AB - The adoption of solar photovoltaic systems is often constrained by various sociotechnical barriers. In this paper, we identify and differentiate barriers to photovoltaic among three groups of potential adopters in Hong Kong: individuals, businesses, and the public sector. A total of 55 interviews were conducted to collect the data for the study. The results indicate that the most important constraints were technical barriers such as space limitations and low energy output, followed by economic barriers such as high upfront costs and long payback periods. Furthermore, we found that individuals were the group most exposed to market, policy, and regulatory barriers and they had to contend with the highest number of barriers. Our analysis also illustrates that there was a close interrelationship between the barriers. For example, technical barriers, such as space limitations, could be overcome partially by addressing regulatory barriers. Based on the analysis, we formulate a number of policy recommendations. The results of this study could be useful to the government in its attempt to facilitate a sustainable energy transition in Hong Kong.
KW - barriers
KW - Hong Kong
KW - Photovoltaic systems
KW - policy recommendation
KW - renewable energy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85041847722&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/0958305X18757402
DO - 10.1177/0958305X18757402
M3 - Journal article
AN - SCOPUS:85041847722
SN - 0958-305X
VL - 29
SP - 649
EP - 663
JO - Energy and Environment
JF - Energy and Environment
IS - 5
ER -