A Systematic Review of Socio-Economic Impact Assessments of Solar Energy and Photovoltaic Technologies: Network Dynamics, Societal Problems and Policy Implications

Pınar Derin Güre, B.C. Zırh, E. Erdil , Y. E. Topal, E. Yazici, E. İpek, A. Deveci, Ramazan Sari

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

Abstract

Stimulated by climate change, sustainability concerns have increased the literature on socioeconomic impact assessments of solar energy and Photovoltaic (PV) technologies. PV systems have gained prominence as a key renewable energy source since the early 2000s. Anticipated shifts in behavior towards alternative energy use are a major postCOVID-19 issue. This paper aims to conduct a bibliometric analysis of this literature and the main objective is to review the existing studies on socioeconomic impacts systematically. For the research design, we adopted a non-traditional review method and used scientometric analysis tools using HistCite and VosViewer programs. According to the findings of the study, there is a significant increase in publications on the socioeconomic impact assessment of Solar Energy and PV technologies from the 2000s to 2020. The top ten research countries are developed, except for China and India. Findings from the narrative analysis of the most frequently cited articles suggest that public policies and patent structures play a prominent role in improving the social acceptance of solar technologies. The paper highlights the most influential works and authors in the field, emphasizes their essential findings on solar energy's socioeconomic impact, and provides recommendations for future research. The literature of 964 articles reviewed for this paper indicates an already emerging bridge between the photovoltaic/solar energy technical research and the social sciences.
Original languageEnglish
JournalInnovation: The European Journal of Social Science Research
ISSN1351-1610
Publication statusAccepted/In press - 2025

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