Co-adoption pathways toward a low-carbon energy system
Maria Lagomarsino,
Mart van der Kam,
Zahra Rahmani Azad,
David Parra,
Ulf J.J. Hahnel
Affiliations
Maria Lagomarsino
Psychology of Sustainability and Behavior Change, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; Corresponding author
Mart van der Kam
Psychology of Sustainability and Behavior Change, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland; Energy Efficiency Group of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Bd Carl Vogt 661205, Geneva, Switzerland
Zahra Rahmani Azad
Psychology of Sustainability and Behavior Change, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland
David Parra
Energy Efficiency Group of the Institute of Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Bd Carl Vogt 661205, Geneva, Switzerland; Hydrogen and Power-to-X Department, Iberian Centre for Research in Energy Storage, Polígono 13, Parcela 31, ''El Cuartillo'', 10004 Cáceres, Spain
Ulf J.J. Hahnel
Psychology of Sustainability and Behavior Change, Faculty of Psychology, University of Basel, Missionsstasse 62a, 4055, Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Center for Affective Sciences, University of Geneva, Chemin des Mines 9, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland; Corresponding author
Summary: Low-carbon technology adoption is an essential element of energy transitions toward net-zero emissions around the world. To exploit the full potential of low-carbon technologies, households should ideally co-adopt multiple low-carbon technologies. Whereas previous research primarily investigated predictors of single-technology adoption in isolation, here we focus on the co-adoption of multiple low-carbon technologies, including solar photovoltaics, stationary batteries, heat pumps, and electric vehicles, to examine the interconnections between adoption decisions and the potential of certain technologies to serve as “entry points” for the co-adoption of multiple low-carbon technologies. Based on a sample of 1967 homeowners, we identified unique demographic and psychological variables associated with co-adoption. We moreover observed specific co-adoption patterns across time in that the adoption of one technology increased the likelihood of adopting another technology. This effect, however, was primarily driven by co-adoption in close temporal proximity, pointing to opportunities for targeted policies that support technology bundles.
