Exploring consumer motivations and barriers in solar energy investments in North Transdanubia

Szilvia Módosné Szalai, Szonja Jenei, Elena Moreno-García, Vasantha Patibandla Lakshmi, Erika Tóthné Juhász, Csaba Bálint Illés

Article ID: 10227
Vol 8, Issue 16, 2024


Abstract


The global significance of the energy crisis and the need for a sustainable European electricity system have intensified interest in renewable energy sources. This study aims to explore the attitudes toward solar energy systems among the population of the North Transdanubian region, which is crucial for companies in the region specializing in solar system installation. The research sheds light on trends in energy prices, potential strategies for addressing the energy crisis, and the regulatory environment for solar systems in Hungary and Austria, focusing on the Burgenland region. The study is divided into two main sections: secondary and primary research. The secondary research presents various applications of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy, and examines energy pricing trends in the two countries, with particular emphasis on the payback period and the impact of changes in energy prices. The primary research is also divided into two parts: the first examines the satisfaction of customers who already use solar systems, and the second focuses on the attitudes of potential customers toward solar investments. The findings provide a comprehensive view of both current users’ and prospective investors’ perspectives on solar energy systems. The practical significance of this research lies in identifying development opportunities for companies, advancing energy efficiency goals, and supporting sustainability efforts.


Keywords


sustainability; solar energy; payback; customer satisfaction; potential buyers

Full Text:

PDF


References


Al-Karim, G. (2023). Guest Editorial: Europe and North America’s Widening Transition Trajectory. Journal of Petroleum Technology, 75(5), 10–11. https://doi.org/10.2118/0523-0010-jpt

Bereznay, I. (2023, September 14). Regulation changes for solar installations. Index. Retrieved October 7, 2023, from https://index.hu/gazdasag/2023/09/14/napelem-telepites-szabalyozas-valtozas-rendelet-kormany/

Bokor, A. (1999). New trends in organizational behavior theory and practice (in Hungarian). In G. Bakacsi, Organizational behavior and leadership (pp. 309-325). KJK.

Brückner, G. (2022, July 13). The energy crisis is so severe that the government has also touched the untouchable utility cost reduction (in Hungarian). Telex. Retrieved April 30, 2023, from https://telex.hu/gazdasag/2022/07/13/energiavalsag-energia-veszelyhelyzet-rezsicsokkentes-szigoritas-intezkedesek-gaz-gazellatas-elemzes

Burgerland Energie. (n.d.). Energy cost flat rate for companies. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.burgenlandenergie.at/de/business/

Chalvatzis, K., & Stephanides, P. (2018). Innovative energy islands: life-cycle cost-benefit analysis for battery energy storage. Sustainability, 10(10), 3371.

Chatzipanagi, A., & Jäger-Waldau, A. (2023). The European Solar Communication—Will It Pave the Road to Achieve 1 TW of Photovoltaic System Capacity in the European Union by 2030? Sustainability, 15(8), 6531. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15086531

Cheng, P., Wang, D., & Schaaf, P. (2022). A review on photothermal conversion of solar energy with nanomaterials and nanostructures: From fundamentals to applications. Advanced Sustainable Systems, 6(9), 2200115. https://doi.org/10.1002/adsu.202200115

Creutzig, F., Agoston, P., Goldschmidt, J. C., Luderer, G., Nemet, G., & Pietzcker, R. C. (2017). The underestimated potential of solar energy to mitigate climate change. Nature Energy, 2(9), 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/nenergy.2017.140

Dobigny, G., & Morand, S. (2022). Zoonotic emergence at the animal-environment-human interface: the forgotten urban socio-ecosystems. Peer Community Journal, 2.Durchblicker. (n.d.). Electricity in Burgenland. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://durchblicker.at/strompreis/burgenland

Durchblicker. (n.d.). Electricity in Burgenland. Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://durchblicker.at/strompreis/burgenland

e-genius. (n.d.). Planning and dimensioning of a PV system. Retrieved April 26, 2023, from https://www.e-genius.at/lernfelder/erneuerbare-energien/grundlagen-der-photovoltaik/planung-und-dimensionierung-einer-pv-anlage

Energie In Niederösterreich. (2023). Support for photovoltaic systems. Retrieved April 27, 2023, from https://www.energie-noe.at/foerderung-fuer-photovoltaik

Eperjesi, Z. (2023). Magyarország és Ausztria energiagazdasága az átalakulóban lévő globális környezetben [Hungary and Austria’s energy economy in the transforming global environment]. Applied Analysis and Business Economics, 3, 86–100. https://doi.org/10.58423/2786-6742/2023-3-86-100

European Commission. (2022). Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions (in Hungarian). Brussels. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/HU/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:52022DC0221&from=EN

Ferge, B. (2019). Types of solar panels – What is the difference? (in Hungarian). Hungarian Solar Panel and Solar Collector Association. Retrieved April 10, 2023, from https://www.mnnsz.hu/napelemek-fajtai/

Fodor, L. (2017). Regulation of renewable energies in Austria (in Hungarian). REAL - MTA Library Repository. Retrieved April 12, 2023, from http://real.mtak.hu/39818/

Greenwood, P., & Nikulin, M. (1988). Application of tests of chi-square type. Sankhya: The Indian Journal of Statistics, 50(4), 399-408. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01129892

Horváth, J. P., Tóth, T. (Dr.), & Somossy, S. É. (2021). International and domestic factors influencing household solar panel installations (in Hungarian). Space and Society, 35(3). Retrieved April 16, 2023, from https://tet.rkk.hu/index.php/TeT/article/view/3355

HVG. (2022, July 14). This is how utility cost reduction decreases: Everything we know so far - and what we don’t (in Hungarian). Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://hvg.hu/itthon/20220714_Igy_csokken_a_rezsicsokkentes_minden_amit_eddig_tudni_lehet__es_amit_nem

HVG. (2023, October 11). A new 75-billion HUF residential solar and energy storage program may start on January 1 (in Hungarian). Retrieved October 14, 2023, from https://hvg.hu/zhvg/20231011_napelemes_palyazat_napenergia_plusz_program_allami_tamogatas_napelem_akkumulator

Imteaz, M. A., & Ahsan, A. (2018). Solar panels: Real efficiencies, potential productions and payback periods for major Australian cities. Sustainable energy technologies and assessments, 25, 119-125.

Ingenieurmagazin. (2023). Businesses achieve near self-sufficiency with photovoltaic and infrared heating. Retrieved April 29, 2023, from https://www.ingenieurmagazin.com/energie-umwelt/photovoltaik-und-infrarotheizung/3670/

Jeong, J., Hong, D., & Youm, S. (2022). Optimization of the Decision-Making System for Advertising Strategies of Small Enterprises—Focusing on Company A. Systems, 10(4), 116.

Józsa, L. (2003). Marketing – Advertising – Market Research I. Göttinger Kiadó.

Juhász, Á., Láng, I., Blaskovics, G., Mika, J., Szépszó, G., Horányi, A., Dobi, I., & Nagy, Z. (2009). Renewable energies. Sprinter Kiadó Csoport.

Kálmán, B. G., Dávid, L., & Malatyinszki, Sz. (2024c). The role of geoparks in sustainable tourism development: A case study approach. Geojournal of Tourism and Geosites (GTG), 17(4spl).

Kálmán B. G., Malatyinszki Sz., Bárczi J., & Zéman Z. (2024a). Corrupción e Inclusión Financiera en Hungría y México [Corruption and Financial Inclusion in Hungary and Mexico, in Spanish]. Revista Mexicana de Economía y Finanzas Nueva Época // Mexican Journal of Economics and Finance (REMEF), 19(2). ID: e1015. http://doi.org/10.21919/remef.v19i2.1015

Kálmán, B. G., Malatyinszki, Sz., Zugor, Zs., & Szőke, B. (2024b). Perceived corruption in light of green transition indicators. Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental // Environmental and Social Management Journal (RGSA), 18(3), e07855. https://doi.org/10.24857/rgsa.v18n3-166

Karda, S., Nagy-György, T., & Boros, I. (2023). Evolution of the payback period for energy-efficient residential buildings in Romania in the last decade. Sustainability, 15(11), 8986. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118986

Klima + Energie Fonds. (2022). Photovoltaic installations 2020–2022. Retrieved April 12, 2022, from https://www.klimafonds.gv.at/call/photovoltaik-anlagen-2022/

Kraenzle, H., Rampp, M., Werner, D., Seitz, J., & Sharma, N. (2023). Prediction of the Growth of Renewable Energies in the European Union using Time Series Analysis. Journal of Energy Forecasting, 22(26), 341–352. https://doi.org/10.37394/23205.2023.22.26

Li, Y., Zhang, T., Zhang, H., Cui, P., Fu, Z., Gao, Z., Geng, Q., Liu, Z., Zhu, Q., Li, H., & Li, M. (2022). Efficient and comprehensive photovoltaic/photothermal utilization technologies for solar energy. Power Generation Technology, 43(3), 373–391. https://doi.org/10.12096/j.2096-4528.pgt.22052

Liu, J., Hu, C., Kimber, A., & Wang, Z. (2020). Uses, cost-benefit analysis, and markets of energy storage systems for electric grid applications. Journal of Energy Storage, 32, 101731.

Llewellyn, R., Cowie, J., & Fountas, G. (2021). Solar-powered active road studs and highway infrastructure: Effect on vehicle speeds. Energies, 14(21), 7209. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14217209

Lund, H. (2010). Renewable energy systems. Academic Press.

Mackay, D. J. C. (2011). Sustainable energy - Without the hot air (Hungarian translation: Vertis Zrt., Typotex Kiadó Kft.).

Mousazadeh, H., Ghorbani, A., Azadi, H., Almani, F. A., Zangiabadi, A., Zhu, K., & Dávid, L. D. (2023). Developing sustainable behaviors for underground heritage tourism management: The case of Persian Qanats, a UNESCO World Heritage Property. Land (Basel), 12(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3390/land12040808

Németh E., Kálmán B. G., & Malatyinszki Sz. (2024). Pénzügyi biztonság Magyarországon: a 2023-as OECD-felmérés eredményeinek kettős nézőpontú elemzése [Financial security in Hungary: A dual perspective analysis of the 2023 OECD survey results, in Hungarian]. Statisztikai Szemle // Hungarian Statistical Review, 102(9), pp. 896–915. https://doi.org/10.20311/stat2024.09.hu0896

Semberry, P. (Dr.), & Tóth, L. (2004). Traditional and renewable energies (in Hungarian). Szaktudás Kiadó Ház.

Semkow, T., Freeman, N., Syed, U. F., Haines, D., Bari, A., Khan, A., Nishikawa, K., Khan, A., Burn, A. G., Li, X., & Chu, L. T. (2019). Chi-square distribution: New derivations and environmental application. Journal of Applied Mathematics and Physics, 7(8), 1212-1225. https://doi.org/10.4236/JAMP.2019.78122

Şerban, A. C., & Lytras, M. D. (2020). Artificial intelligence for the smart renewable energy sector in Europe—Smart energy infrastructures for next-generation smart cities. IEEE Access, 8, 77364–77377. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2020.2990033

Sztankó, É. (2017). A villamosenergia-piac egységesítésének esélyei az Európai Unióban [The chances of unifying the electricity market in the European Union]. Competitio, 16(2), 3–22.

Tries, M., Skrable, K., French, C., & Chabot, G. (1999). Basic applications of the chi-square statistic using counting data. Health Physics, 77(4), 420–423. https://doi.org/10.1097/00004032-199910000-00013

Um, H. D., Choi, K. H., Hwang, I., Kim, S. H., Seo, K., & Lee, S. Y. (2017). Monolithically integrated, photo-rechargeable portable power sources based on miniaturized Si solar cells and printed solid-state lithium-ion batteries. Energy & Environmental Science, 10(4), 931–940. https://doi.org/10.1039/C6EE03208H

Weaver, K., Morales, V. C., Dunn, S. L., Godde, K., & Weaver, P. (2017). Chi-square test. In Genetic Analysis in the Laboratory (pp. 123–130). https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119454205.CH9

Weiner, C., & Szép, T. (2022). The Hungarian utility cost reduction programme: An impact assessment. Energy Strategy Reviews, 40, 100817. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esr.2021.100817

Wijesuriya, D. T. P., Wickramathilaka, K. D. S. H., Wijesinghe, L. S., Vithana, D. M., & Perera, H. R. (2017). Reduction of solar PV payback period using optimally placed reflectors. Energy Procedia, 134, 480–489. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egypro.2017.09.561

Li, Y., Zhang, T., Zhang, H., et al. (2022). Efficient and comprehensive photovoltaic/photothermal utilization technologies for solar energy. Power Generation Technology, 43(3), 373.

Zsarnoczky, M., Zsarnoczky-Dulhazi, F., Adol, G. F. C., Barczak, M., & Dávid, L. D. (2019). Food safety challenges in the tourism processes. Rural Sustainability Research, 41, 26–31. https://doi.org/10.2478/plua-2019-0005




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd10227

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 Szilvia Módosné Szalai, Szonja Jenei, Elena Moreno-García, Vasantha Patibandla Lakshmi, Erika Tóthné Juhász, Csaba Bálint Illés

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.