Social-psychological aspects of domestic renewable energy: A study of low-income tenants responses to solar photovoltaics

If the UK is to achieve the aim of moving to a low-carbon society, it is necessary to understand the factors involved in public acceptance of new energy technologies. To date however, there is little research exploring responses to renewable energy technologies in low-income households and disadvantaged communities, especially where those technologies are `imposed' by outside agencies. This research attempts to address this gap by investigating perceptions of and attitudes towards solar photovoltaic (PV) panels in a `New Deal for Communities' area in Leicester (UK). Forty-two semi-structured interviews were conducted with tenants of the solar homes prior to installation of PV panels. A theoretical framework reflecting issues of technology diffusion, place-related social identity and social networks was used as a template in coding participants' accounts. A follow-up questionnaire survey (n=13) was used to explore some of the issues arising from the interviews. Findings suggest that participants' perceptions of PV prior to installation reflect constructs from Rogers' (2003) attribute-perception model, but that this model did not capture all factors that influenced perceptions of PV. Tenants recognised personal and community benefits from PV. However, some concern was expressed about the outcomes of installation and some participants reported a lack of interest and little awareness of the technology. In addition, there were concerns that the scheme may damage community relations by inspiring envy in those whose houses were not included. Taken as a whole, these findings stress the importance of investigating tenants' perceptions prior to implementation of the project. The second study found that if tenants do not save money from PV then they will have a negative attitude towards it. From these findings, conclusions are drawn about the potential for successfully implementing similar schemes in areas undergoing urban regeneration and suggest some ways in which this process can be facilitated. Acknowledgements I'd like to thank Dr Patrick Devine-Wright and Ben Dodd for starting me off on this project but even more so, thanks to my supervisor Dr Rob Wall for his support and guidance which enabled me to finish. Rob, your enthusiasm for social research, and concern for our planet have been an inspiration and I'm very grateful for your time and effort. Thanks to my second supervisor Thilo Boeck, for my introduction to the field of qualitative research, and Dr Kate Irvine for advice on writing. Thanks also to Professor Kevin Lomas, Leicester Housing Association, the `Six Streets' residents who gave up their time to take part in this research and Mike Preston for his interest in this project. I'd also like to thank my industrial sponsor Environ, the EPSRC and INREB for funding this research. My great thanks to my housemate Michael Coleman for his confidence and support in the completion of this project and to the ladies at IESD Claudia Bernardini, Anne Smith and Katy Beadle for their kind heartedness during my time in Leicester. Thanks also to Greame Stuart for his love of ping pong, cider and intellectual debate. I'd also like to thank Sarah Godfrey, Jo Crichton, Zoe Reidy, Ben Midgley, Ahsan Nazir and my other friends in London who all in their own different ways have helped me with this PhD and who continually add to my enjoyment of life. This thesis is for Matthew Derbyshire, whose enthusiasm and determination in life enlightens my own and whose continued love and support helps me to "keep snailing".