How to motivate residents’ intentions and behaviors to purchase photovoltaic power? A discrepancy study in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao GBA

• Published in: Energy reports Vol. 11; pp. 1088 - 1099
• Main Authors: Xu, Liujie, Zhang, Junlong, Sheng, Ni, Long, Yuqiong, Yuan, Wenyi, Wang, Chao, Song, Qingbin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: E-TPB; Greater Bay Area; Photovoltaic power; Purchasing intention and behavior; Structural equation modelling; Purchasing intention and behavior; Structural equation modelling; Greater Bay Area; E-TPB; Photovoltaic power
• ISSN: 2352-4847; 2352-4847
• DOI: 10.1016/j.egyr.2023.12.051

As an important type of renewable energy, photovoltaic (PV) power development is facing higher generation cost. In the consumption phase, therefore, it will be essential for PV development, for residents have the intention to pay more for purchasing PV power. This study is designed to reveal residents' purchase intentions and behaviors regarding PV power using an extended theory of planned behavior model (E-TPB) by adding three new variables (environmental emotion, environmental concern, and policy cognition). From 2785 valid samples from 10 cities in China's Greater Bay Area (GBA), all the hypothesized paths except policy cognition are supported in the GBA city group as a whole, and E-TPB had high explanatory power (R2 = 0.680 and 0.670) for predicting residents' intentions and behaviors, respectively. In most cities, policy cognition continues to moderate perceived behavioral control and consequently purchasing intentions. Perceived behavioral control remains an important determinant of behavior in all results. Environmental emotions and attitudes toward PV power do not impact the residents' intentions in some cities. The obtained results will provide policymakers with some effective support for PV development in the GBA and more widely in greater China. [Display omitted] •The extended TPB examines residents' intentions and behaviors to purchase PV power.•It discussed determining residents' intentions at the region-wide or city level.•Policy cognition doesn't directly affect residents' intentions in each result.•Perceived behavioral control is a key determinant of behavior in all results.