Qiu Village Photovoltaic Panel

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.

Can solar PV help China's poorest?

A review of photovoltaic poverty alleviation projects in China: current status, challenge and policy recommendations. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev.94, 214–223 (2018). Murray, S. F. Solar PV can help China’s poorest.

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.

What is solar PV & how does it work in China?

At first, solar PV in China was developed and deployed principally for lighting and other off-grid products to expand energy access for traditionally nomadic populations on the plateau, for whom electricity would not previously have been available.

What is China's solar PV policy?

Solar PV policy in China is still largely dominated by an emphasis on supply-side expansion in the form of technology and manufacturing capacity. There is less focus on the demand side — and, in this case, on poor households and mobile herders’ communities.

Do community-level support and household resources affect photovoltaic adoption?

We find that structural opportunities provided by communities and households’ own resource endowments have an additive effect on adoption. This highlights the need to consider both community-level support and household resources when evaluating photovoltaic adoption and energy justice.