What are the factors that most influence the decision to purchase a photovoltaic system?
What do consumers think about photovoltaic distributed generation?
Are consumers' thoughts about the distributed generation of photovoltaic energy consistent with reality?
Hello,
According to what I can see in Costa Rica, for a client without any expertise in PV systems, the most important aspect to consider for purchase these kinds of systems is the Return Of Investment (ROI). Somehow the final client is more concerned to recover this investment in a reasonable time, than other aspects. This situation can be tricky because underestimated calculations can be performed without the right technical supervision.
Somem people think that their power will not be interrupted when they purchase PV systems without batteries i.e. they overestimate the value of PV power. In some other cases, they are not well aware about the environmental value of PV power.
Unfortunately, they usually have very little information on the need for the concurrence of the household consumption profile and the PV production profile. An incorrect designer will only design a battery, making the PV system more expensive. Sometimes it is enough to compare the consumption profile with the intended installation before installation. By changing the operating time (for example, a programmable washing machine, dishwasher, etc.) it is possible to achieve that the electricity produced from the PV is actually consumed. In this way, the return on the system is significantly reduced.
As an example, I am attaching a file in which it is possible to easily create a consumption profile and insert a production profile for a PV system - for example from the PVGIS program.
Warning! It is necessary to enter data or a graph of daily production. It is possible to analyze it for each month, or the average values for a given period.
Thank you, Hugo Sánchez-Ortiz, Mohamed Azab, Mohamed EL-Shimy, Peter Tauš, and Anna Ebers Broughel
. Very interesting answers!In Brasi, it is possible to verify the lack of knowledge of consumers about the generation of photovoltaic energy. Most people do not know how photovoltaic systems work, what are their benefits, durability, and impact.
So, this discussion is very important so that we can help raise awareness about this renewable energy source.
Although in countries from Europe, the USA, and other high-income economies photovoltaic distributed generation are quite consolidated, here in Brazil I think that is a lot of work to do.
Hugo Sánchez-Ortiz's answer is quite interesting: ROI vs. underestimated projects. Many entrepreneurs see photovoltaic as an excellent opportunity to make "easy" money because distributed PV is growing very fast. So, if these consumers don't have the correct perception of the PV system's characteristics, they can buy projects that may not deliver what they promise.
Mohamed EL-Shimy also brings an interesting point of view: many people think they are entirely independent of the grid because they can produce their electricity. It can be a severe problem.
This discussion is fundamental to the sustainable growth of PV distributed generation, mainly in upper-middle, middle, lower-middle, and low-income economies, with their particularities. Congratulations for starting this discussion, Taís Bisognin Garlet. I hope that we can keep sharing knowledge and information.
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