Exploring Residents' Attitudes toward Solar Photovoltaic System Adoption in China

Author Information

Yaqin Sun
Steven Spicer

Abstract/Description

As the world’s largest energy consuming country, China is facing environmental deterioration, which results from the overuse of non-renewable conventional energy such as coal. Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, an unlimited and clean energy with minimal impacts on the environment, is considered a good alternative to alleviate this severe issue. A survey was designed and conducted among residents in some major cities in China: Beijing, Shanghai, Nanchang, and Guangdong. Based on the first-hand data, basic statistical methods were utilized to examine Chinese urban residents’ knowledge, concerns, and attitudes about solar PV adoption. The research aimed to identify the drivers and dynamics that most encourage customers to install solar PV systems in their residential buildings. The data suggest that the factors that could increase solar PV adoption are (a) reduced costs, (b) practical government incentives, (c) desire to reduce fossil fuel usage, and (d) education to increase awareness of solar PV systems. This research empirically assesses the impacts of the adoption of solar PV systems on various socio-economic groups.

Note on the Author

Yaqin Sun is an international student from China who graduated from Bridgewater State University in 2015 with a major in Mathematics and a minor in Computer Science. She is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Decision Sciences in the LeBow College of Business at Drexel University. Steven Spicer also graduated in 2015, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Management. He is now working at Fidelity Investments. This project was the result of an Undergraduate Research Abroad grant from BSU’s Office of Undergraduate Research, which supported Yaqin, Steven, and two other students, skillfully led by Dr. Xiangrong Liu (Management), in their travel to China to study the market for solar photovoltaic power in that country.

Recommended Citation

Sun, Yaqin and Spicer, Steven (2016). Exploring Residents' Attitudes toward Solar Photovoltaic System Adoption in China. Undergraduate Review, 12, 148-160.
Available at: https://vc.bridgew.edu/undergrad_rev/vol12/iss1/22

Rights Statement

Articles published in The Undergraduate Review are the property of the individual contributors and may not be reprinted, reformatted, repurposed or duplicated, without the contributor’s consent.