The analysis of demographics, environmental and knowledge factors affecting prospective residential PV system adoption: A study in Tehran.

The identification of potential adopters has a vital role in developing renewable energies. Photovoltaic systems, as a clean power generation technology, provide a great potential advantageous for the environment and especially for families. This study aims to evaluate those factors which affect adoption of photovoltaic systems by taking into consideration Tehran's unique circumstances, air pollution and high-density of population, low price of energy and governmental financial supports. Moreover, families who are more likely to adopt these systems are identified. For this purpose, we employed a binary logistic regression model to analyze the adoption probability. The empirical results suggest that low and moderate-income level homeowners who live in low-rise multi-unit residential buildings have more tendency towards photovoltaic systems. In general income shows a negative impact on adoption. Environmental concerns, knowledge of renewable energies, innovativeness and number of households, either of these factors positively increases the probability of adoption individually. Results of this study help policy-makers and renewable energy marketers to make energy-related decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]