Eternal Sunshine of the Solar Panel

TL;DR

This paper models how social influence impacts residential solar panel adoption using a compartmental model, identifying a threshold for persistent adoption and analyzing the effects of social dynamics on the population.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model that quantifies the role of social influence in solar panel adoption and determines the critical threshold for sustained adoption.

Findings

Social influence significantly affects solar panel adoption rates.

A threshold value for persistent adoption is identified.

Uncertainty and sensitivity analyses highlight key factors influencing adoption dynamics.

Abstract

The social dynamics of residential solar panel use within a theoretical population are studied using a compartmental model. In this study we consider three solar power options commonly available to consumers: the community block, leasing, and buying. In particular we are interested in studying how social influence affects the dynamics within these compartments. As a result of this research a threshold value is determined, beyond which solar panels persist in the population. In addition, as is standard in this type of study, we perform equilibrium analysis, as well as uncertainty and sensitivity analyses on the threshold value. We also perform uncertainty analysis on the population levels of each compartment. The analysis shows that social influence plays an important role in the adoption of residential solar panels.