A case study of the rural photovoltaic panel scam

Are low-quality solar panels a problem for rural residents?

However, rural residents are at a disadvantage in these communications. Their education levels tend to be lower and they have less access to information. Therefore, when solar installation companies use low-quality PV panels, households often cannot identify the problem. The low-quality panels reduce the power generation and income.

Does community management influence household adoption of rooftop solar photovoltaics in rural China?

This paper examines inequality in household adoption of rooftop solar photovoltaics in rural China through a qualitative study of three villages. The Chinese government promotes distributed solar to drive low-carbon development. However, community management and China’s institutional system influence unequal access.

How do I avoid a crappy solar panel deal?

To avoid a crappy solar panel deal, watch out for these scammy sales tactics. Dealing with door-to-door salespeople is annoying, no matter what they're selling. But the solar industry is full of bad actors, with solar salespeople knocking at your door with misleading offers and overpromised savings.

Do community-level support and household resources affect photovoltaic adoption?

We find that structural opportunities provided by communities and households’ own resource endowments have an additive effect on adoption. This highlights the need to consider both community-level support and household resources when evaluating photovoltaic adoption and energy justice.

Are photovoltaic applications causing poverty?

Studies have found that photovoltaic applications tend to reflect and reinforce existing socioeconomic disparities (Lacey-Barnacle 2020; Balta-ozkan et al. 2021) and lead to unfair resource allocation (Knox et al. 2022). From this perspective, inequality between energy wealth and poverty grows with climate impact (Heinberg et al. 2016).

Do local authorities play a role in household rooftop photovoltaic adoption?

The research revealed salient geographic disparities in household rooftop photovoltaic adoption, closely associated with the role of local authorities (particularly village committees) in new energy promotion schemes.