Consumer attitudes towards renewable energy in China—The case of Shanghai

Hast, Aira; Alimohammadisagvand, Behrang; Syri, Sanna

Abstract

In this paper, we study the consumers’ attitudes towards green energy in China and their willingness to buy green electricity or renewable energy systems. A survey was conducted in the Shanghai region and 232 respondents answered the questionnaire. Generalized linear regression models were used in analyzing the results. The willingness to buy an own renewable energy system (e.g. solar water heater) is affected by age, how promising the renewable energy potential is seen and whether the person can choose the water heating and cooling system. The willingness to pay for a specific green electricity product is influenced by income, building type, how promising the renewable energy potential is seen, and whether the person can choose the water heating and cooling system.

Our results show that price and equipment issues (operation, maintenance) were often seen as barriers to buying green energy. Energy savings and energy security were most often chosen as motivations for buying green energy and environmental reasons were less frequently chosen. Yet, buying green energy would have a strong environmental meaning for many respondents. Several respondents mentioned that lower prices and government subsidies could motivate them to buy green energy, and that more information and advertisement campaigns are needed.

Citation

Hast, A., Alimohammadisagvand, B., & Syri, S. (2015). Consumer attitudes towards renewable energy in China—The case of Shanghai. Sustainable Cities and Society, 17, 69-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2015.04.003

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 2, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Apr 16, 2015
• Publication Date: 2015-09
• Deposit Date: Jul 16, 2021
• Journal: Sustainable Cities and Society
• Print ISSN: 2210-6707
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 17
• Pages: 69-79
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2015.04.003
• Keywords: Renewable energy, Willingness to buy, Consumer attitude
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2787346