Latin America; Solar PV distributed generation; Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Abstract :
[en] Substantial adoption of solar rooftop systems in the residential sector resulting from the implementation of net metering policies can lead to worsening socioeconomic inequalities. This is because of the lack of information on the socioeconomic profiles of distributed solar generators. To fill this information gap and shed light on the determinants of solar photovoltaic distributed generation uptake, this paper aims to identify the profile of the first adopters of solar PV distributed generation by merging different databases. Using multilevel regression analysis, this study investigates how socioeconomic factors, project viability, and neighborhood variables, matter for adopting solar PV distributed generation in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico. Results differ across countries, as institutional frameworks matter. In Brazil, adopters live in urban areas and are highly responsive to solar energy potential. In Chile, the size of the project matters. Finally, in Mexico, results show that demonstration effects play a crucial role in adoption. Income as a determining factor is inconclusive. Average spending on electricity matters in all countries. This study highlights the existence of heterogeneity in the distribution of solar distributed generators. To mitigate these distortions, this work suggests some recommendations to improve solar distribution net metering policies in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico.
Disciplines :
Microeconomics
Author, co-author :
Chueca, Enrique; International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, United States
Weiss, Mariana; Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, United States
Celaya, Rogelio; International Monetary Fund, Washington, DC, United States
Ravillard, Pauline; Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, United States
ORTEGA MORENO, Boris ; University of Luxembourg > Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust (SNT) > FINATRAX ; UAlberta - University of Alberta [CA] > Department of Economics
Tolmasquim, Mauricio T.; Energy Planning Program, Graduate School of Engineering, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Hallack, Michelle; Inter-American Development Bank, Washington, DC, United States
External co-authors :
yes
Language :
English
Title :
Early adopters of residential solar PV distributed generation: Evidence from Brazil, Chile and Mexico
This paper is an adapted version of the Monograph IDB-MG-886 published with the Inter-American Development Bank in December 2020. Special thanks go to the colleagues who contributed with technical inputs to this research, including David Lopez Soto, Maria Eugenia Sanin, Tomas Serebrisky, and Alfonso Delgadillo.
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