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. 2021;11(1):31.
doi: 10.1186/s13705-021-00306-4. Epub 2021 Sep 16.

How does satisfaction of solar PV users enhance their trust in the power grid? - Evidence from PPAPs in rural China

Liping Ding  1   2 , Yin Shi  1 , Chenchen He  1   2 , Qiyao Dai  1 , Zumeng Zhang  1 , Jiaxin Li  1 , Ling Zhou  3
Affiliations

How does satisfaction of solar PV users enhance their trust in the power grid? - Evidence from PPAPs in rural China

Liping Ding et al. Energy Sustain Soc. 2021.

Abstract

Background: Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Projects (PPAPs) have been implemented in Chinese rural areas since 2014. As a new energy policy, PPAPs have played an important role in alleviating rural poverty. However, the adoption of solar PV faces multiple barriers from the perspective of beneficiaries. Therefore, this study aims to discuss and analyze factors affecting beneficiaries' satisfaction and their trust in State Grid, promoting the adoption of solar PV.

Methods: Based on the integrated American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) and Unified Theory of Acception and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model, this study used the Structural Equation Model (SEM) to reveal how the beneficiaries' satisfaction enhance their trust in State Grid. The data were obtained from a survey of 928 PPAPs' beneficiaries by stratified and random sampling in Chinese rural areas.

Results: The results confirm that environmental perception in this study has positive impact on beneficiaries' satisfaction. In addition, perceived quality also has a positive effect on beneficiaries' satisfaction and trust in State Grid; however, social influence has a negative impact on beneficiaries' satisfaction; behavior expectation can directly promote beneficiaries' satisfaction while indirectly propel their trust in State Grid.

Conclusions: This study constructs an integrated customer satisfaction model from the perspective of beneficiaries and proposes relevant measures to promote the adoption of solar PV that can be applied to poverty reduction in other developing countries worldwide.

Keywords: Adoption; Beneficiaries’ satisfaction; Photovoltaic Poverty Alleviation Projects (PPAPs); Solar PV; Trust in State Grid.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Conceptual model of this study
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Distribution of study areas. Notes 1—Haiyuan county; 2—Yongning county; 3—Chahar Right Middle Banner; 4—Gonghe county; 5—Tongwei county; 6—Tianzhen county; 7—Changyang county; 8—Shangcai county; 9—Jinzhai county
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Validation of the conceptual model. Notes *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Sample size of study areas. Notes The selecting principle in village-level sampling: more than 50% project villages were selected in each sample county; The selecting principle in household-level sampling: 20–30 poor households were selected from each project village
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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