Citizen perception of different set-ups for solar community Identification of drivers and challenges to engagement in solar communities
| dc.contributor.author | Wingårdh, Hedda | |
| dc.contributor.department | Chalmers tekniska högskola / Institutionen för teknikens ekonomi och organisation | sv |
| dc.contributor.department | Chalmers University of Technology / Department of Technology Management and Economics | en |
| dc.contributor.examiner | Bergek, Anna | |
| dc.contributor.supervisor | Bergek, Anna | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2024-08-19T11:48:16Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2024-08-19T11:48:16Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2024 | |
| dc.date.submitted | ||
| dc.description.abstract | Amongst an ongoing climate crisis and environmental concerns, there have been demands to transform the energy system to be based on renewable sources. A part of transforming the energy system also involves placing citizens at the centre, taking a more active role, and having increased agency in energy questions. The response has been the emergence of solar communities. This thesis explores citizens’ perceptions towards solar community set-ups in Sweden. The focus is on identifying drivers and challenges associated with becoming a member of solar communities and how these drivers and challenges affect the ideal set-up of solar communities. It is a qualitative study employing a mixed-method approach, combining a theoretical framework, a comprehensive survey, and a focus group interview. The study’s findings show that there exist numerous drivers and challenges for non-members to engage in solar communities in Sweden. Numerous motives are identified as drivers to engage, with economic motives viewed as the strongest, followed by environmental motives. The former strongly influences views on the ideal set-up, such as decision-making. Individual characteristics such as being a house owner, make solar communities a more serious alternative for saving on electricity. Substantial challenges are found and are primarily due to a lack of awareness and understanding of the concept. Moreover, the national context of Sweden, with both significant advances in green energy supply and strong social norms, is acting as a challenge to becoming a member. Social norms act as a strong challenge and affect views on engagement with particular influence on social participation where it is deemed unwanted. | |
| dc.identifier.coursecode | TEKX08 | |
| dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12380/308417 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.setspec.uppsok | Technology | |
| dc.subject | energy communities | |
| dc.subject | solar energy communities | |
| dc.subject | sustainable transitions | |
| dc.subject | adoption | |
| dc.title | Citizen perception of different set-ups for solar community Identification of drivers and challenges to engagement in solar communities | |
| dc.type.degree | Examensarbete för masterexamen | sv |
| dc.type.degree | Master's Thesis | en |
| dc.type.uppsok | H | |
| local.programme | Management and economics of innovation (MPMEI), MSc |