Barriers and incentives for residential solar PV in the Calgary area

Abstract

Solar energy holds great promise for reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, especially in sunny places such as the Calgary area. While its cost has decreased and its efficiency has improved, there is no proportionate increase in adoption. An increase in adoption not only reduces environmental concerns but has potential benefits for the economy. In this capstone project, I analyze the barriers and incentives for solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption by residents in the Calgary area. Specifically, I conduct a survey to better understand the residents’ motivations and concerns. I perform statistical analyses on the data using t-test and regression analysis. I find that age, salary, and other factors have significant impacts on adoption. Moreover, I emphasize the importance of looking at the adoption decision more holistically, and considering factors such as lifestyle and environment, along with economic factors. Based on my analyses, I provide several recommendations for policy-makers and companies.