Public Acceptance of Residential Solar Roof Tops in Chennai

Abstract

One of the most abundant forms of renewable energy in India is solar energy. Also called the Surya Putra, India receives 5000 trillion kWh of solar energy every year, most of it coming from the south of India, yet most of the solar resource remains untapped. Residential solar roof tops are one of the most prominent routes for generating solar power. However, most of this power comes from large industrial and commercial sectors, and the average Indian households account for only 7% of the total residential solar roof tops. The current study attempts to analyze the challenges in Tamil Nadu with regard to Residential Solar Roof Top PV (RSRTPV). Solar PV industry and its penetration into our society is yet to reach its full potential. The public acceptance is very significant in speeding and effecting the implementation of residential solar roof top PV. The need of the hour is to understand the steps that will result in knowledge of PV dissemination to the local population in Tamil Nadu, which contributes to India’s solar resource to a large extent. It is important to create economic and financial awareness along with underlining the concept of sustainability to the society. Therefore, this study aims at analyzing the demographic profile of the RSRTPV consumers and a comparison of economic, financial, environmental, and satisfaction level factors which are the significant determinants of RSRTPV adoption model. The article helps in providing a statistical overview of the factors that play a key role in the adoption of RSRTPV, and the factors that might pose as a hindrance to the public acceptance of RSRTPV. The study would aid the general consumer in understanding the current scenario for installing the RSRTPV, and the institutions and organization involved in solar power to understand the underlying factors behind the consumer adoption of RSRTPV.