Photovoltaics in the UK domestic sector: a double-dividend?

James Keirstead, Environmental Change Institute

Keywords

domestic energy consumption, photovoltaics, behavioural response, feedback

Abstract

Solar photovoltaics (PV) can reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of the domestic sector by offsetting traditional sources of electricity; however the total savings achieved by these PV installations must also consider the household's behavioural response to the system and its associated monitoring device. Evidence from other countries has shown that these post-PV behavioural changes can either increase or decrease overall consumption from previous levels depending on local context. The UK government has recently supported domestic PV with a £6 million (8.5 million Euro) grant programme and over 600 households have purchased PV systems. The aim of this paper is therefore to determine whether PV households in the UK are likely to increase or decrease their domestic energy consumption, drawing upon the results of a recent survey. Three potential mechanisms for this behavioural change are discussed: personal responsibility for energy consumption, the symbolism of PV, and feedback and the role of monitoring equipment. The results suggest that, at present, further savings from behavioural responses will be limited primarily to use and maintenance behaviours, resulting from a commitment to responsible energy use. In future, the green symbolism of PV may encourage larger savings as the technology spreads to more diverse households. Suggestions are provided to maximize the benefit from behavioural responses to domestic PV.