Communicating the Values and Benefits of Home Solar Prosumerism

Abstract

Clearly and accurately communicating the economic, environmental, and social benefits of solar PV prosumerism poses significant challenges. Previous research shows that government policies and public engagement campaigns can positively impact solar prosumerism; however, little is known about the quality and accuracy of information exchanged between rooftop solar installers and potential prosumers. This study addresses part of this gap with a mixed methods approach. First, a multimodal discourse analysis of installation proposals from seven home solar installers in Madrid shows accurate and reasonable financial benefits alongside incongruent social and environmental benefits. Second, the calculated efficiency of the seven proposed solar installations is compared with the efficiency of four different PVSC solar arrays using actual load and generation profiles. The results show that (i) the high variability of actual household demand on the minute-by- minute level significantly decreases self-consumption rate and profitability in comparison with the rates estimated using hourly or monthly, and (ii) the grouping of households into solar communities should significantly increase self-consumption and profitability. Therefore, using minute by minute time series in home solar estimations would reveal an added value and social benefit that is commonly overlooked. We conclude with recommendations for future research and multimodal communication campaigns that balance benefits of individual prosumerism and community solar.

Benefits Achieved by Energy Suppliers through Cooperation with Individual Recipients and Their Readiness for This Cooperation

“…This is a development opportunity for a given community, e.g., living in rural areas [48], although this solution is not without certain risks. In a more detailed approach, the differences in the behavior of active recipients are also analyzed depending on the specificity of renewable energy sources (i.e., solar, wind, and bioenergy installations) [49] and depending on the methods of communicating the benefits achieved by individual recipients generating solar energy for their own needs [50]. The latter of the above-mentioned trends includes the research conducted by Junlakarn, Kokchang and Audomvongseree [51] on the trade in green energy between recipients via an Internet platform and the research carried out by Drabecki and Toczyłowski [52] relating to the interest of active recipients in optimizing not only the financial costs of energy, but also social and environmental costs, etc.…”

Analysis of barriers affecting the adoption of community solar from consumer's perspective: A hybrid ISM-DEMATEL approach

“…Furthermore, the lack of reliable information regarding financial costs, benefits, electricity output, incentive schemes, energy output, solar irradiation and potential environmental and societal benefits with respect to solar projects also act as hindrance for PV adoption. 13,53 In the context of PV prosumerism, Wuebben and Peters 58 in their research identified PV promoters barely focused on communicating environmental and societal benefits to consumers, which plays a pivotal role in public opinion shift.…”

Impact of Subsidy Programmes on the Development of the Number and Output of RES Micro-Installations in Poland

“…The problem with subsidising renewables in Spain was described by Wuebben and Peters [41]. In 2008, Spain was the world leader in the number and output of photovoltaic installations.…”