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Toward an optimal household solar subsidy: A social-technical approach

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  • Liu, Shen
  • Colson, Gregory
  • Hao, Na
  • Wetzstein, Michael

Abstract

An analytical framework is developed for integrating the social science into a socio-technical approach for assessing the optimal solar energy subsidy. Estimating the optimal solar subsidy based on the analytical framework takes into account technical environment, health, employment, and electricity accessibility benefits as well as household's prosocial behavior. Results indicate that an optimal subsidy is positively affected by the marginal external benefit; however, this effect is mitigated by the rebound effect based on motivational-crowding theory. Calibrating the model using published elasticities yields estimates of the optimal solar energy subsidy equal to approximately $0.02 per kilowatt-hour when prosocial behavior is omitted. The estimated optimal subsidy is in line with many current state feed-in-tariff rates, which may be the upper bound when social science is not considered in policy analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Liu, Shen & Colson, Gregory & Hao, Na & Wetzstein, Michael, 2018. "Toward an optimal household solar subsidy: A social-technical approach," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 147(C), pages 377-387.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:147:y:2018:i:c:p:377-387
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.01.038
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Marginal external benefit; Motivational crowding; Optimal subsidy; Prosocial evaluation; Solar photovoltaic (PV);
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • Q2 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Renewable Resources and Conservation
    • Q4 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Energy
    • Q5 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Environmental Economics

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