Beyond the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems at Scale: Allegorising the Battery Energy Storage Adoption Behaviour
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Interactions between PV and BESS Adoption Behaviours
2.1. Similarities and Differences
2.2. Interrelations between PV and BESS Adoptions
2.3. Role of the PV Adoption Decision
- Regret: An attitudinal feeling that arises from not taking action sooner (i.e., not adopting PV earlier than it should be). Feelings of regret can be a false perception or cognitive consideration. Examples are expecting to move to a new place or anticipating the costs to swiftly decrease. Of course, regret becomes sensible only when earlier adoption would be an option—explicitly, the person had control over the behaviour. In the same condition, it can is likely that the regretful homeowner, happy with consumping the rooftop PV technology, would be an earlier adopter of BESS. This scenario also applies to the rejectors despite their interest. The rejectors could believe that it is too late to act or could be waiting for the simultaneous purchase.
- Stability: The experience of PV consumption contributes to no attitudinal change: whether it be a rejection or acceptance, the decision instigates no favourable or unfa-vourable belief. Thus, this reverberation is expected to have no attitudinal reverberation for BESS.
- Despair: The feeling of dissatisfaction and discontent. A despairing person is also regretful but from PV acquisition. The consumer tends to be unimpressed by over expectations (e.g., lower bill savings than expected) or technical frustrations. When the despaired consumer compares the financial aspect of adoption timing, he/she may adjudicate that the purchase occurred prematurely. A despairing prosumer hesitates when assessing BESS.
3. Classification of Adopters
3.1. Categorisation of BESS Adopters
3.2. Categorisation of Queensland Adopters
- PV adopters before 2012: Labelled as innovators, PV adopters before 2012 are ‘savvy’ economic benefit-seekers who strategically timed their purchase to right after the SBS was introduced. They could also be post-materialistic and wide-awake, for which the SBS triggered their decision. They are most commonly found in South East Queensland, currently under contract with the government with a FiT rate of 44 c/kWh until 2028 [19]. The uptake of BESS before 2028 will likely cause a financial loss or a more extended payback period since the electricity will be stored rather than returning to the grid. Although projected to have a stronger intention, they could wait until 2028 to ensure a maximum profit. Aside from their intentions, they are proactive in response to emerging technology.
- PV adopters after 2012: The PV adopters after 2012 constitute another group of current PV users but who are on a yearly contract with the government under a lower FiT. Their characteristics embrace broader features, whether they be early adopters, the early majority, or to some extent, the late majority. Their level of awareness is assumed to be lower than the first group. Alternatively, they hold a higher perceived risk and decided to purchase once their uncertainty was reduced. The government would target this group as the main prosumers, though turning them into innovators will likely not come easily.
- Future PV–BESS adopters: This group adopts both systems at the same time to enjoy the benefits of government incentives. This class can afford the costs of both technologies and has the required infrastructure and capacity, but for some reason, they have refused to opt for PV. A reason could be ‘regret’, the decision not to act on time. This group could be the potential innovators of BESS. However, as with the first group, the government will likely find it difficult to urge them to invest in both packages, which comes by spending a large amount of money.
- Future PV adopters: The last group comprises current grid electricity users who will install PV in the upcoming years but not BESS right away. Commonly less exposed to peer effects, they come from a lower social class. They can be labelled as the late majority and laggards, who hold similar characteristics to the third group. Once PV is acquired, it will be unclear whether they can afford BESS, thereby making time important for the government to prompt them to become simultaneous buyers.
4. Behavioural Decision-Making Model
4.1. Reasoned Action Approach
4.2. Background Factors of BESS and PV–BESS Adoption
5. A Pilot Decision-Making Model
5.1. Attitudinal Component
5.2. Control Component
5.3. Characteristics of the Model
6. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
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Alipour, M.; Stewart, R.A.; Sahin, O. Beyond the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems at Scale: Allegorising the Battery Energy Storage Adoption Behaviour. Energies 2021, 14, 5015. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165015
Alipour M, Stewart RA, Sahin O. Beyond the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems at Scale: Allegorising the Battery Energy Storage Adoption Behaviour. Energies. 2021; 14(16):5015. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165015
Chicago/Turabian StyleAlipour, Mohammad, Rodney A. Stewart, and Oz Sahin. 2021. "Beyond the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaic Systems at Scale: Allegorising the Battery Energy Storage Adoption Behaviour" Energies 14, no. 16: 5015. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14165015