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Wood-Pellet Heating in Norway: Early Adopters’ Satisfaction and Problems That Have Been Experienced

Author

Listed:
  • Geir Skjevrak

    (Department of Energy and Process Engineering, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Bertha Maya Sopha

    (Industrial Ecology Programme, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
    Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Gadjah Mada University, Yogyakarta, Indonesia)

Abstract

Given the vital role of early adopters during the early stage of wood-pellet heating development, this study aims to explore the factors that explain the overall satisfaction among the early adopters of this type of heating as well as the problems experienced with wood-pellet heating in Norway. Ordinal regression was used to analyze empirical data which was collected from a mail survey in autumn 2008. The response rate of 45% was composed of 669 early adopters of wood-pellet heating. Findings show that both economic factor ( i.e. , cost) and technical factors ( i.e. , pellet stove performance) have played a significant role in early adopters’ overall satisfaction with wood-pellet heating. The most common problems experienced are igniter failure in the pellet stove, lack of committed and competent suppliers/vendors, more time and effort than expected during maintenance, and fines from pellets both during handling and combustion.

Suggested Citation

  • Geir Skjevrak & Bertha Maya Sopha, 2012. "Wood-Pellet Heating in Norway: Early Adopters’ Satisfaction and Problems That Have Been Experienced," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 4(6), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:4:y:2012:i:6:p:1089-1103:d:17989
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Nyrud, Anders Q. & Roos, Anders & Sande, Jon Bingen, 2008. "Residential bioenergy heating: A study of consumer perceptions of improved woodstoves," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(8), pages 3159-3166, August.
    2. Sopha, Bertha Maya & Klöckner, Christian A. & Skjevrak, Geir & Hertwich, Edgar G., 2010. "Norwegian households' perception of wood pellet stove compared to air-to-air heat pump and electric heating," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(7), pages 3744-3754, July.
    3. Christiansen, Atle Christer, 2002. "New renewable energy developments and the climate change issue: a case study of Norwegian politics," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(3), pages 235-243, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Michelsen, Carl Christian & Madlener, Reinhard, 2015. "Beyond Technology Adoption: Homeowner Satisfaction with Newly Adopted Residential Heating Systems," FCN Working Papers 1/2015, E.ON Energy Research Center, Future Energy Consumer Needs and Behavior (FCN).
    2. Xingmin Liu & Beibei Qin & Yong Wu & Ran Zou & Qing Ye, 2021. "Study on Rural Residents’ Satisfaction with the Clean Energy Heating Program in Northern China—A Case Study of Shandong Province," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(20), pages 1-16, October.
    3. Thomson, Harriet & Liddell, Christine, 2015. "The suitability of wood pellet heating for domestic households: A review of literature," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 1362-1369.
    4. Gong, Yuanchao & Cai, Bo-feng & Sun, Yan, 2020. "Perceived fiscal subsidy predicts rural residential acceptance of clean heating: Evidence from an indoor-survey in a pilot city in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    5. Alisa Freyre & Stefano Cozza & Matthias Rüetschi & Meinrad Bürer & Marlyne Sahakian & Martin K. Patel, 2021. "How to Improve Effectiveness of Renewable Space Heating Programs by Better Understanding Homeowner—Installer Interactions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(15), pages 1-24, July.
    6. Karytsas, Spyridon & Theodoropoulou, Helen, 2014. "Public awareness and willingness to adopt ground source heat pumps for domestic heating and cooling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 49-57.
    7. García-Maroto, I. & García-Maraver, A. & Muñoz-Leiva, F. & Zamorano, M., 2015. "Consumer knowledge, information sources used and predisposition towards the adoption of wood pellets in domestic heating systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 207-215.
    8. Casey Olechnowicz & Jessica Leahy & Tian Guo & Emily Silver Huff & Cecilia Danks & Maura Adams, 2021. "Industry Leaders’ Perceptions of Residential Wood Pellet Technology Diffusion in the Northeastern U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-15, April.

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