Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Department of Building and Real Estate | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Lee, Minhyun (BRE) | en_US |
| dc.contributor.advisor | Shen, Qiping Geoffrey (BRE) | en_US |
| dc.creator | Huang, Lijie | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13978 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | en_US |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | A multi-level decision support framework for community shared solar adoption in cities : a case study in Hong Kong | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | Renewable energy technologies are undergoing rapid development and implementation on a global scale as they are considered as pivotal alternatives that have the potential to curtail carbon emissions and mitigate reliance on fossil fuels. Among them, community solar offers accessible and affordable solar power to individuals facing financial or locational constraints. However, several barriers impede the adoption and scaling of community solar, highlighting the need to assess the feasibility of community shared solar (CSS) projects from social, techno-economic, and environmental perspectives to promote community solar adoption and facilitate energy transmission. | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | This research aims to develop a multi-level decision support framework for community solar adoption that considers social, techno-economic, and geographic feasibility to promote distributed solar generation through community solar adoption and to achieve energy democracy in a city. The specific objectives of this research are as follows: (1) To identify and categorize barriers to community solar adoption by importance and relevance (Social acceptance); (2) To develop a business model and a financial model for CSS projects, analyzing appropriate electricity pricing to benefit both developers and subscribers, and exploring the techno-economic performance of CSS projects (Techno-economic feasibility); (3) To propose a method for identifying suitable sites for CSS projects, considering multiple criteria (Geographic suitability); (4) To apply and validate the proposed multi-level decision support framework through case studies in Hong Kong, offering strategies to enhance community solar adoption in Hong Kong. | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | Initially, the study identified motivations and challenges in community solar adoption, particularly in niche markets, providing a theoretical foundation for further in-depth analysis. Based on it, this study comprehensively investigated key barriers to community solar adoption through integrated methods, revealing causal and hierarchical relationships among these barriers. In addition, this study proposed a new business model and a customized financial model for CSS projects in emerging markets, evaluating the financial performance of CSS projects under current and future market conditions. Moreover, this study identified feasible, suitable, and optimal sites for CSS projects. Ultimately, a multi-level decision support framework for community solar adoption was proposed by integrating three modules: social acceptance, techno-economic feasibility, and geographic suitability. The framework was validated in Hong Kong by conducting comparative and empirical analyses. | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | The key findings obtained in this study include the following aspects. First, the results of social acceptance indicate that immaturity is the most important barrier from the perspectives of customers and developers. Customers prioritize policy support, conversion efficiency, and reliability, while developers focus more on weather, lack of information, and reliability. The results emphasize the important role of technological advancement and policy support in community solar adoption. Second, the techno-economic feasibility analysis results reveal that CSS projects are currently financially unviable in Hong Kong, with PV-generated electricity prices (CSRs) being nearly two to three times higher than retail electricity prices (REPs). Conversely, future market conditions suggest that CSRs could be lower than REPs, thereby indicating the potential financial feasibility of CSS projects. To achieve acceptable financial performance under current market conditions, the estimated payback periods for CSS projects require at least over 20 years, and the minimum amount of extra subsidy required for the developer accounts for around 11% of the total upfront installation cost of PV systems. Moreover, a minimum subscription rate of approximately 75% is identified as necessary to ensure mutual benefits for developers and subscribers in the future market. Third, the findings from geographic suitability show that the final feasible sites cover 152.3 km², showing that 13.7 % of the study area is potentially useable. Moreover, 1.7 % of the study area is classified as very high, 0.9 % as high, 7.0 % as medium, 3.4 % as low, 0.02 % as very low, and 87.6 % as unsuitable for CSS projects. High and very high suitability areas are primarily located in industrial areas and new town rooftops in the northwest of the New Territories, dense urban areas, and vacant lands. Additionally, when CSS projects are installed in medium, high, and very high suitability areas, the amount of PV-generated electricity accounts for 15.20 % of total energy consumption in 2023, while carbon emissions can be reduced by 4.6 million tons. By prioritizing the proposed seven alternatives, this study identified an industrial center’s rooftop and a residential building’s rooftop as the best sites for a specific CSS project. | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | This research contributes to both theoretical knowledge and practical decision-making. Theoretically, first, this study introduces a hybrid tool to identify hierarchical and causal relationships among barriers to community solar adoption from the perspectives of different stakeholders. Second, this study proposes a new business model and a customized financial model for CSS projects in niche markets, which offers an innovative approach to analyze the techno-economic performance of CSS projects under different scenarios. Third, this study integrates several methods, quantitatively evaluating site selection for CSS projects. Finally, this study establishes a multi-level decision support framework for community solar adoption. Practically, the proposed framework serves as an effective tool for analyzing community solar issues before making decisions and implementing strategies. It offers valuable insights into adoption barriers, pricing and financial strategies, and site selection to promote community solar adoption in niche markets. Specifically, the framework’s identification of key barriers provides constructive guidance for developing community solar projects, while the financial performance informs the design of appropriate pricing and other financial strategies. The exploration of suitable site determination at both city and project levels offers significant insights and decision support for CSS project site selection within cities. In conclusion, this research advances the field of community solar adoption by providing a comprehensive framework that addresses social, techno-economic, and geographic aspects. These contributions offer practical guidance for promoting community solar initiatives and pave the way for further advancements in sustainable energy solutions. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | xx, 289 pages : color illustrations | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2025 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | Ph.D. | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Doctorate | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | open access | en_US |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/13978