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Accelerating renewable energy electrification and rural economic development with an innovative business model: A case study in China

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  • Li, Changsheng
  • Shen, Bo

Abstract

The rural developing world faces a significant challenge in achieving the dual objectives of economic growth and decarbonization. An innovative business model tested in China that combines the use of solar photovoltaics (PVs) and agricultural greenhouses offers a solution to meeting this challenge and can have the potential for global deployment. However, the traditional PV-greenhouse business model is facing growing difficulties with shrinking revenues due to declining feed-in-tariffs. This study discusses a new business model concept based on a case in which a local Chinese PV company has transformed its business model from a crop production business to a service platform. The study concludes that business model innovation for expanding PV-greenhouse functions can help PV agricultural companies effectively adapt their businesses to policy changes and that new supporting policies are needed in promoting PV-greenhouse integration, adopting financial supporting measures, and facilitating grid integration of PV.

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  • Li, Changsheng & Shen, Bo, 2019. "Accelerating renewable energy electrification and rural economic development with an innovative business model: A case study in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 280-286.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:127:y:2019:i:c:p:280-286
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2018.12.009
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    Cited by:

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    2. Ebrahim Navid Sadjadi & Roemi Fernández, 2023. "Relational Marketing Promotes Sustainable Consumption Behavior in Renewable Energy Production," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Song, Chenchen & Guo, Zhiling & Liu, Zhengguang & Hongyun, Zhang & Liu, Ran & Zhang, Haoran, 2024. "Application of photovoltaics on different types of land in China: Opportunities, status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    4. Liu, Zhengguang & Guo, Zhiling & Song, Chenchen & Du, Ying & Chen, Qi & Chen, Yuntian & Zhang, Haoran, 2023. "Business model comparison of slum-based PV to realize low-cost and flexible power generation in city-level," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 344(C).
    5. Rövekamp, Patrick & Schöpf, Michael & Wagon, Felix & Weibelzahl, Martin & Fridgen, Gilbert, 2021. "Renewable electricity business models in a post feed-in tariff era," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 216(C).
    6. Qiang Wang & Thomas Dogot & Yueling Yang & Jian Jiao & Boyang Shi & Changbin Yin, 2020. "From “Coal to Gas” to “Coal to Biomass”: The Strategic Choice of Social Capital in China," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-22, August.
    7. Focacci, Chiara Natalie, 2021. "Technological unemployment, robotisation, and green deal: A story of unstable spillovers in China and South Korea (2008–2018)," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    8. Hu, Bo & Zhou, P. & Zhang, L.P., 2022. "A digital business model for accelerating distributed renewable energy expansion in rural China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 316(C).
    9. Zheng, Jiajia & Wang, Xingwu, 2021. "Can mobile information communication technologies (ICTs) promote the development of renewables?-evidence from seven countries," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    10. Diatlova Valentyna & Diatlova Yuliia & Petryk Iryna & Hutareva Yuliia & Zubro Tetyana & Tyshchenko Olena, 2021. "Innovative Development: Model and Evaluation Method in the Context of Integration Processes," Management Theory and Studies for Rural Business and Infrastructure Development, Sciendo, vol. 43(1), pages 161-171, March.

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