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Spatial Characteristics of the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaics in Urban Areas: A Case of Seoul, South Korea

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  • Moon-Hyun Kim

    (Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

  • Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim

    (Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Interdisciplinary Program in Landscape Architecture, and Environmental Planning Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea)

Abstract

Mini-solar photovoltaics, which are installed on apartment balconies, are rapidly spreading in Seoul, South Korea. Seoul has implemented a policy to diffuse mini-solar photovoltaics in apartments for energy transition since 2012. The policy considers compact land use and a large population of the city. This study examines a variety of variables in relation to the adoption of mini-solar photovoltaics. In particular, we focus on peer effects, namely, those of spatially adjacent, previously installed mini-solar photovoltaics. As apartment characteristics, four variables are selected to assess both within and between apartment complexes: one for the density of adopters as a within-complex variable and three for the number of adopters in the 500 m, 1 km, and 1.5 km radius of apartment complexes as between-complex variables. A major finding is that peer effects significantly contribute to the new adoption of mini-solar photovoltaics. Implications of this finding are discussed in an urban context.

Suggested Citation

  • Moon-Hyun Kim & Tae-Hyoung Tommy Gim, 2021. "Spatial Characteristics of the Diffusion of Residential Solar Photovoltaics in Urban Areas: A Case of Seoul, South Korea," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-16, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:2:p:644-:d:479919
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    3. Li, Yanjiao & Qing, Chen & Guo, Shili & Deng, Xin & Song, Jiahao & Xu, Dingde, 2023. "When my friends and relatives go solar, should I go solar too? —— Evidence from rural Sichuan province, China," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 203(C), pages 753-762.

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