| 1. |
- Altunay, Maria, 1992, et al.
(author)
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Solar business model adoption by energy incumbents: the importance of strategic fit
- 2021
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In: Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions. - : Elsevier BV. - 2210-4224. ; 40, s. 501-520
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This paper answers recent calls to give more attention to the business strategies of incumbent actors regarding innovation and socio-technical transitions. We map the solar business model adoption of 30 Swedish electric utility incumbents and examine to what extent it can be explained by the strategic fit with the utilities' established business models, corporate strategies, and external environment. We find that all three dimensions need to be considered in order to explain adoption. Alignment with the established business model is mainly important concerning activities, resources, and partnerships, and utilities also re-configure solar models to increase this alignment (e.g. through outsourcing). However, it is not the main driver for adoption. Instead, incentives and pressures related to corporate strategies and external environment induce or block retailers from adopting solar models. By demonstrating the importance of strategic fit, these findings provide a more nuanced understanding of industry incumbent's strategies in relation to emerging technologies.
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| 2. |
- Palm, Alvar, 1981
(author)
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Early adopters and their motives: Differences between earlier and later adopters of residential solar photovoltaics
- 2020
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In: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. - : Elsevier BV. - 1879-0690 .- 1364-0321. ; 133
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To facilitate and forecast the diffusion of sustainable innovations, such as solar photovoltaics (PV), it is important to understand what motivates people to adopt them. Early adopters are known to be partly driven by other motives than late adopters, and adoption motives may thus change over time as new user segments gain interest in the technology. This paper investigates differences in adoption motives between the earliest and somewhat later adopters of residential PV systems. First, a systematic literature review is conducted, in which the findings of previous studies are mapped against the market maturity of their empirical contexts. The review reveals that the earliest PV adopters are driven mainly by environmental concern and technophilia, while later adopters are driven predominantly by economic gains. Second, an empirical investigation of Swedish adopters over a nine-year period is conducted, using Green Party voting as a proxy for environmental concern. It is found that the relationship between Green Party voting and PV adoption weakens over time, again suggesting that the earliest adopters are more driven by non-financial motives such as environmental concern than later adopters. The results can inform diffusion forecasting as well as marketing and information campaigning intended to induce PV adoptions.
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| 3. |
- Palm, Alvar, 1981, et al.
(author)
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Information dissemination and residential solar PV adoption rates: The effect of an information campaign in Sweden
- 2020
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In: Energy Policy. - : Elsevier BV. - 0301-4215. ; 142:July
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Information campaigns promoting sustainable technology adoption are common. However, knowledge about their effects is limited. In this study, the effect of a Swedish information campaign for solar photovoltaics (PV) adoption is evaluated quantitatively. The campaign took place in Sweden in 2017 and was directed towards homeowners. 41% of all Swedish municipalities participated, creating a ‘treatment’ and a ‘control’ group. As dependent variables, we used applications and approvals for a nation-wide PV subsidy scheme. Few Swedish PV installations have historically occurred outside of the subsidy scheme, which is quite accessible and offers a substantial rebate. Thus, the data were assumed to correspond well with actual installations. Hierarchical linear regression, with a set of control variables, was used. We found that campaign participation was associated with a 29% increase in submitted and approved subsidy applications. Thus, we conclude that the information campaign had a significantly positive effect on PV adoption rates, and that policy makers in other countries with limited PV penetration could launch similar campaigns to elevate PV adoption rates.
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| 4. |
- Palm, Alvar, 1981
(author)
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Innovation systems for technology diffusion: An analytical framework and two case studies
- 2022
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In: Technological Forecasting and Social Change. - : Elsevier BV. - 0040-1625. ; 182
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Existing theories on the diffusion of innovations fail to sufficiently account for contextual factors such as in-stitutions, infrastructure, and supply-side dynamics. This paper presents a novel framework to analyse tech-nology diffusion from a sociotechnical systems perspective, intended as an analytical tool to identify and assess drivers and barriers to diffusion that could be addressed through policy or business strategy. This framework, referred to as the diffusion innovation system (DIS) approach, is positioned within the innovation systems liter-ature. The framework is applied to two empirical cases of renewable energy technology diffusion in Sweden: solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind power. The cases illustrate how key factors related to institutions, infra-structure, adopters, and supply co-develop over time as the technologies diffuse, hence demonstrating the merits of the framework. As these changes are both a reaction to and a cause of diffusion, the sociotechnical diffusion system develops through positive feedback loops. Although the systems' development is largely conducive of diffusion, some remaining and potential barriers are identified.
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