Kim Wolske, PhD

Uptake of rooftop solar has primarily been concentrated in higher income households. As technology costs decline, focus is shifting toward increasing uptake in underserved market segments. A key policy goal is to expand solar access more equitably, particularly to low-to-moderate income (LMI) households. In order to achieve this goal, a deeper understanding of the potential LMI market is needed.

 

This four-year project used data-driven and evidence-based methods to identify characteristics, motivations, and barriers specific to LMI solar demand. These activities included:

• Mapping the technical potential for solar deployment in LMI communities

• Conducting three case studies to examine the pertinent economic and policy factors that contribute to or hinder LMI market potential

• Surveying LMI adopter households to understand attitudes and beliefs about solar

• Testing strategies to increase customer referrals among LMI households

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Publications:

Wolske, K.S., Todd-Blick, A. & Tome, E. (2023). Increasing the reach of low-income energy programmes through behaviourally informed peer referral. Nature Energy. Access paper here: https://rdcu.be/dh5R6

 

Wolske, K.S. (2020). More alike than different: Profiles of high-income and low-income rooftop solar adopters in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 63, 101399.

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Other papers by Project team:

Reames, T.G. (2020). Distributional disparities in residential rooftop solar potential and penetration in four cities in the United States. Energy Research & Social Science, 69, 101612.

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Sigrin, B.O., & Mooney, M.E. (2018). Rooftop solar technical potential for low-to-moderate income households in the United States (No. NREL/TP-6A20-70901). National Renewable Energy Lab.(NREL), Golden, CO (United States).

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Visit the project website: https://www.nrel.gov/solar/seeds/2017-2019-study.html