Neighborhood influences on the diffusion of residential photovoltaic systems in Kyoto City, Japan

Abstract

This study investigates the factors influencing the diffusion of residential photovoltaic systems. Factors examined are related to social attributes, such as population structure and living environment within neighborhoods and those close by, together with a neighbor effect revealed as a positive spatial dependency of the diffusion. To examine these factors simultaneously, the study applies a spatial econometric analysis, taking advantage of the availability of cumulative data on installed residential photovoltaic systems and census-based social attributes in about 4000 census blocks in Kyoto City, which include 1.47 million people. Results include: (1) an observed neighbor effect, especially between census blocks within a radius of 1000 m; (2) evidence that diffusion is positively influenced in a census block by lower population density and higher number of household members, as well as by lower ratios of detached houses and lower population densities in nearby census blocks; and (3) indication that diffusion is positively influenced by a higher proportion of young people through various mechanisms. To further facilitate the diffusion, implementing non-economic measures designed in light of the observed neighborhood influences is recommended, in addition to conventional economic support measures.

The Residential Solar PV in the Mid-Atlantic: A Spatial Panel Approach

“…Several studies look at diffusion and spatial patterns of solar PV systems in the United States (Bollinger and Gillingham 2012; Graziano and Gillingham 2015; O’Shaughnessy, Nemet, and Darghouth 2018). A few recent studies have looked at spatial effects in the solar PV market abroad (Balta-Ozkan, Yildirim, and Connor 2015; Schaffer and Brun 2015; Dharshing 2017; Kosugi, Shimoda, and Tashiro 2019). The recent empirical literature on solar PV adoption is broad, so we limit our review to the most relevant studies.…”

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Solar Roof Top Generation, Marginal Cost, Financial Impacts on the Utility of Sri Lanka

“…Levi, Economy, O'Neil, and Segal, (2010) stressed the significance of government policies on renewable energy development. Kosugi, Shimoda, and Tashiro, (2019) has stressed the key driver of evolution of residential PV adoption as the public economic support measures. Hence for successfulness of any program government support is very important.…”