Diffusion of Renewable Microgeneration on the Side of End-User: Multiple Case Study

Abstract

The development of microgeneration plays an important part in the strategy of the decarbonization of the world economy. However, its diffusion faces different barriers, including the information and technical barriers on the side of the end-user. This paper contributes to the literature by providing a comparative cross-country analysis of the role of the corporate sector in providing the installation and technical servicing of PV solar panels and small wind turbines in the Republic of Armenia, India, Russia, and the United Arab Emirates. Business proposals from the microgeneration equipment market were analyzed by studying the official websites of companies offering autonomous and backup power supply solutions, followed by interviews with company representatives using the “mystery shopper” method. The study reveals that, of the four surveyed countries, the Republic of Armenia has the highest level of representation of service companies on the Internet (4.71 companies per million population). It is followed by the United Arab Emirates (1.9 companies per million population) and the Russian Federation (0.29 companies per million population). India ranks last in this indicator (0.02 companies per million population). The Republic of Armenia has the highest level of corporate sector development, with such essential features as cooperation with commercial banks for providing potential consumers with financial support and involvement in educational activities for the population. The main feature of the Indian corporate sector is orientation on the B2B format in building customer relationships. In Russia and the United Arab Emirates, the effect of implementing large projects with state support is still limited and does not extend to the general population.

Keywords

• energy policy
• renewable generation
• microgeneration