A meta-analysis of residential PV adoption: the important role of perceived benefits, intentions and antecedents in solar energy acceptance

Emily Schulte; Fabian Scheller; Daniel Sloot; Thomas Bruckner

doi:10.1016/j.erss.2021.102339

A meta-analysis of residential PV adoption: the important role of perceived benefits, intentions and antecedents in solar energy acceptance

Emily Schulte^*, Fabian Scheller, Daniel Sloot, Thomas Bruckner

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Abstract

The adoption of residential photovoltaic systems (PV) is seen as an important part of the sustainable energy transition. To facilitate this process, it is crucial to identify the determinants of solar adoption. This paper follows a meta-analytical structural equation modeling approach, presenting a meta-analysis of studies on residential PV adoption intention, and assessing four behavioral models based on the theory of planned behavior to advance theory development. Of 653 initially identified studies, 110 remained for full-text screening. Only eight studies were sufficiently homogeneous, provided bivariate correlations, and could thus be integrated into the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations across primary studies revealed medium to large correlations between environmental concern, novelty seeking, perceived benefits, subjective norm and intention to adopt a residential PV system, whereas socio-demographic variables were uncorrelated with intention. Meta-analytical structural equation modeling revealed a model (N = 1,714) in which adoption intention was predicted by benefits and perceived behavioral control (R² = .280), and benefits in turn could be explained by environmental concern, novelty seeking, and subjective norm (R² = .641). Our results imply that measures should primarily focus on enhancing the perception of benefits. Based on obstacles we encountered within the analysis, we suggest guidelines to facilitate the future aggregation of scientific evidence, such as the systematic inclusion of key variables and reporting of bivariate correlations.

Original language	English
Article number	102339
Journal	Energy Research and Social Science
Volume	84
Number of pages	24
ISSN	2214-6296
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2021.102339
Publication status	Published - 2022

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087. The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU).

Funding Information:
Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087 . The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Elsevier Ltd

Keywords

Meta-analysis
Reporting standards
Residential sector
Rooftop photovoltaic
Single study issues
Theory of planned behavior

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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title = "A meta-analysis of residential PV adoption: the important role of perceived benefits, intentions and antecedents in solar energy acceptance",

abstract = "The adoption of residential photovoltaic systems (PV) is seen as an important part of the sustainable energy transition. To facilitate this process, it is crucial to identify the determinants of solar adoption. This paper follows a meta-analytical structural equation modeling approach, presenting a meta-analysis of studies on residential PV adoption intention, and assessing four behavioral models based on the theory of planned behavior to advance theory development. Of 653 initially identified studies, 110 remained for full-text screening. Only eight studies were sufficiently homogeneous, provided bivariate correlations, and could thus be integrated into the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations across primary studies revealed medium to large correlations between environmental concern, novelty seeking, perceived benefits, subjective norm and intention to adopt a residential PV system, whereas socio-demographic variables were uncorrelated with intention. Meta-analytical structural equation modeling revealed a model (N = 1,714) in which adoption intention was predicted by benefits and perceived behavioral control (R2 = .280), and benefits in turn could be explained by environmental concern, novelty seeking, and subjective norm (R2 = .641). Our results imply that measures should primarily focus on enhancing the perception of benefits. Based on obstacles we encountered within the analysis, we suggest guidelines to facilitate the future aggregation of scientific evidence, such as the systematic inclusion of key variables and reporting of bivariate correlations.",

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author = "Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller and Daniel Sloot and Thomas Bruckner",

note = "Funding Information: Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087. The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU). Funding Information: Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087 . The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union{\textquoteright}s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 Elsevier Ltd",

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AU - Sloot, Daniel

AU - Bruckner, Thomas

N1 - Funding Information: Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087. The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU). Funding Information: Emily Schulte and Fabian Scheller receive funding from the project SUSIC (Smart Utilities and Sustainable Infrastructure Change) with the project number 100378087 . The project is financed by the Saxon State government out of the State budget approved by the Saxon State Parliament. Fabian Scheller also kindly acknowledges the financial support of the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement no. 713683 (COFUNDfellowsDTU). Publisher Copyright: © 2021 Elsevier Ltd

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N2 - The adoption of residential photovoltaic systems (PV) is seen as an important part of the sustainable energy transition. To facilitate this process, it is crucial to identify the determinants of solar adoption. This paper follows a meta-analytical structural equation modeling approach, presenting a meta-analysis of studies on residential PV adoption intention, and assessing four behavioral models based on the theory of planned behavior to advance theory development. Of 653 initially identified studies, 110 remained for full-text screening. Only eight studies were sufficiently homogeneous, provided bivariate correlations, and could thus be integrated into the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations across primary studies revealed medium to large correlations between environmental concern, novelty seeking, perceived benefits, subjective norm and intention to adopt a residential PV system, whereas socio-demographic variables were uncorrelated with intention. Meta-analytical structural equation modeling revealed a model (N = 1,714) in which adoption intention was predicted by benefits and perceived behavioral control (R2 = .280), and benefits in turn could be explained by environmental concern, novelty seeking, and subjective norm (R2 = .641). Our results imply that measures should primarily focus on enhancing the perception of benefits. Based on obstacles we encountered within the analysis, we suggest guidelines to facilitate the future aggregation of scientific evidence, such as the systematic inclusion of key variables and reporting of bivariate correlations.

AB - The adoption of residential photovoltaic systems (PV) is seen as an important part of the sustainable energy transition. To facilitate this process, it is crucial to identify the determinants of solar adoption. This paper follows a meta-analytical structural equation modeling approach, presenting a meta-analysis of studies on residential PV adoption intention, and assessing four behavioral models based on the theory of planned behavior to advance theory development. Of 653 initially identified studies, 110 remained for full-text screening. Only eight studies were sufficiently homogeneous, provided bivariate correlations, and could thus be integrated into the meta-analysis. The pooled correlations across primary studies revealed medium to large correlations between environmental concern, novelty seeking, perceived benefits, subjective norm and intention to adopt a residential PV system, whereas socio-demographic variables were uncorrelated with intention. Meta-analytical structural equation modeling revealed a model (N = 1,714) in which adoption intention was predicted by benefits and perceived behavioral control (R2 = .280), and benefits in turn could be explained by environmental concern, novelty seeking, and subjective norm (R2 = .641). Our results imply that measures should primarily focus on enhancing the perception of benefits. Based on obstacles we encountered within the analysis, we suggest guidelines to facilitate the future aggregation of scientific evidence, such as the systematic inclusion of key variables and reporting of bivariate correlations.

KW - Meta-analysis

KW - Reporting standards

KW - Residential sector

KW - Rooftop photovoltaic

KW - Single study issues

KW - Theory of planned behavior

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DO - 10.1016/j.erss.2021.102339

M3 - Journal article

AN - SCOPUS:85120163495

VL - 84

JO - Energy Research & Social Science

JF - Energy Research & Social Science

SN - 2214-6296

M1 - 102339

ER -

A meta-analysis of residential PV adoption: the important role of perceived benefits, intentions and antecedents in solar energy acceptance

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

OpenUrl availability

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Cite this