Household attitudes and characteristics towards photovoltaic adoption in Hong Kong: Identifying the determinants for sustainable energy transition

This study investigates the attitudes and characteristics of households in Hong Kong towards photovoltaic (PV) system adoption and evaluates the effectiveness of existing solar energy policy (i.e., the Feed-in Tariff scheme). A structured questionnaire survey was conducted to collect responses from 776 participants, including 371 PV installers and 405 non-PV installers. This study is distinct from previous studies by conducting a comprehensive quantitative analysis to uncover the differences in the financial, technical, social, environmental, and demographic aspects, as well as household electricity consumption patterns regarding PV adoption between PV installers and non-PV installers. This allows to address significant gaps in the literature that often focus solely on the perspectives of PV installers. The T-test results indicated significant differences in attitudes towards PV adoption between PV installers and non-PV installers in Hong Kong. Notably, PV installers were less deterred by the perceived barriers (e.g., PV installation cost and technical knowledge) and less attracted by the perceived motivations (e.g., peer effect and environmental impact) than non-PV installers, whereas non-PV installers were more likely to perceive barriers and motivations than PV installers. Chi-square tests of independence revealed that demographic factors (e.g., homeownership, housing type, household income, education level) were the main determinants of PV adoption. Specifically, PV adoption was positively associated with homeowners, independent houses, medium to high income (i.e., HK$40,000 to HK$59,999) and a high education level. In addition, the decision to install PV systems was also influenced by overall annual electricity consumption patterns. Therefore, it is imperative for policymakers to implement targeted interventions to effectively strengthen PV uptake and pave the way for a more inclusive and sustainable transition towards widespread PV adoption.