Yuxian Village Photovoltaic Panels

Does community management influence household adoption of rooftop solar photovoltaics in rural China?

This paper examines inequality in household adoption of rooftop solar photovoltaics in rural China through a qualitative study of three villages. The Chinese government promotes distributed solar to drive low-carbon development. However, community management and China’s institutional system influence unequal access.

Which villages in China have a PV project?

Given the extensive piloting in these provinces, we chose three villages for fieldwork. Village S in Weifang City, Shandong, known as the “first PV village”, has enterprise-funded PV. Village Z in Nanjing City, Jiangsu has government-funded PV. Village Q in Nanjing has resident-funded PV.

How many households in Jiangsu have a rooftop PV system?

For example, Village Z in Jiangsu Province has 32 households. In 2017, the local power company planned free rooftop PV installation for 25 households, but only 23 were ultimately installed. Of the 9 non-adopters, 2 lacked suitable roofs, while others declined over roof damage or absentee concerns.

How can China promote distributed PV?

To promote distributed PV, China’s National Energy Administration launched a “county-level promotion” strategy in 2021. This strategy sets a target for at least 20% of rural households in 676 pilot counties and districts to adopt rooftop solar panels. The concept of “energy justice” originates from John Rawls’ theory of justice.

Can a village adopt a solar power system?

Usually, only about 30% of households can adopt PV. To increase that percentage, the village would need to expand transformer capacity. The costs of that expansion get divided up and paid by later adopters. This raises their construction costs and creates an obstacle to adoption. It is another form of injustice.

Are low-quality solar panels a problem for rural residents?

However, rural residents are at a disadvantage in these communications. Their education levels tend to be lower and they have less access to information. Therefore, when solar installation companies use low-quality PV panels, households often cannot identify the problem. The low-quality panels reduce the power generation and income.