1 - 10 of 10
-
PublicationType:Journal:Volume:Issue:
-
PublicationCommunity financing of renewable energy projects in Austria and Switzerland: profiles of potential investors( 2017)Small-scale investors are gaining recognition as a valuable source of private funding necessary for a successful energy transition. Still, there is limited knowledge about the characteristics of potential investors, especially in community renewable energy projects. This study intends to address this gap and investigates the impact of socio-demographic and socio-psychological characteristics on individuals’ willingness to invest in community renewable energy projects. Our investigation is based on two large-scale representative surveys of 2,260 respondents in Austria and Switzerland. The majority of respondents would be willing to invest 1,000 to 10,000 CHF/EUR in such a project, with higher amounts in the Swiss sample. Potential investors in Austria tend to be male homeowners with higher incomes, while Swiss investors are more educated. Generally, positive attitudes and beliefs related to renewable energy have a significant impact on investment intention. The largest group of potential investors in both countries can be described as ‘urban energy enthusiasts’, who show high acceptance of wind energy installations near their communities. Surprisingly, a significant segment of potential investors is skeptical of a nearby wind installation. Study results can be used by decision-makers to tailor appropriate policy measures and by project developers for communication of the project aims and benefits.
-
PublicationHow do Swiss renters and home owners value green building features?( 2017-10)The goal of our study was to determine whether renters and owners prefer ‘green’ residential buildings and if so, whether energy efficiency certification or availability of solar PV system and energy storage added to consumer value. We investigated which energy efficiency certification schemes were most widely recognized, whether the consumers supported mandatory certification, and through which channels information about energy efficiency certification was obtained. The data were gathered in January-February 2016 by means of a representative web survey with 1,001 respondents, residing in German- and French-speaking parts of Switzerland. Methodologically, this research is based on analysis of stated preferences and choice-based conjoint (CBC) experiments. CBC is a popular method in market research, because it mirrors a realistic decision situation, requiring respondents to make trade-offs among desired product features. The respondents were asked to choose among four potential properties for rent or purchase. Each property was described with respect to its location, number of bedrooms, quality of interior fittings, and price premium. The property description contained two ‘green’ features: energy efficiency rating ranging from A (best) to F (worst) and presence of rooftop solar PV system with or without half- or full-day battery storage. Each respondent answered ten randomly generated choice tasks, and observing these choices allowed us to indirectly measure consumer preferences. As expected, traditional property characteristics such as location, size, interior fitting, and price premium were the most important for determining property choices (joint relative importance of 71.5%). The relative importance of the two ‘green’ features accounted for the remaining 28.5%, suggesting that customers place nontrivial value on ‘green’ building characteristics. In particular, the respondents were interested in combining a solar PV system with a half- or full-day battery storage. This finding indicates the potential for marketing solar home systems together with storage solutions as part of modern, high-performance residential buildings. Furthermore, higher energy efficiency ratings (A or B) were strongly preferred to lower ratings (D or F). Our survey showed that 59% of all respondents favored the idea of mandatory energy efficiency certification for residential properties at the time of purchase. Support for mandatory certification was higher among renters (66%) than among owners (50%). The most widely known energy efficiency standard in Switzerland was the independent third-party certification scheme Minergie (known to 93% of respondents). GEAK certification, launched in 2009 by Swiss cantons, was known to 29% of respondents, followed by LEED (known to 27% of respondents), which is popular in North America. The respondents obtained information about energy efficiency standards from the media, such as magazines (48%), internet (37%), TV (33%), or radio (21%). Other important sources of information were friends and family (35%), property owners’ or renters’ associations (22%) and architects (16%). Compared to household appliances and cars, energy efficiency certification in the building sector still has untapped potential. While only a third of respondents took into account energy efficiency when buying a house, a large majority of respondents considered an energy label when purchasing household devices.
-
-
PublicationCommunity Financing of Renewable Energy Projects in the Age of Low and Negative Interest Rates in Austria and Switzerland(Verlag Raiffeisen Schweiz, 2016)This contribution describes the current attitudes of potential investors towards community financing of renewable energy projects. Based on a representative survey of more than 2,000 respondents, conducted in Austria and in French- and German-speaking parts of Switzerland in 2015, the study identified four types of potential investors depending on their location (urban vs. rural) and social acceptance of wind energy.
-
PublicationWind in the Sails: Managing Social Acceptance of Wind Energy Projects(oikos, 2017)Shortly after the Fukushima meltdown of 2011, the Swiss government developed an Energy Strategy 2050, aimed to build up renewable energy capacity, improve energy efficiency and phase out nuclear energy. Yet, growth in the wind sector had been disappointing. This case study examines the factors that took the wind out of sails of large wind projects in Switzerland, paying special attention to the risks associated with public policy and stakeholder opposition. Though focusing on Switzerland, the lessons learned from the case study are applicable internationally, with multiple examples of large infrastructure projects being halted or severely delayed by public opposition and red tape. Staged in May 2017, the case centers around Nadine Haller, who has been developing a large wind project for the last five years. She has just learned the news that the Energy Strategy 2050 has been accepted by the popular vote and she is contemplating what this result means for her project. The case study is based on interviews with more than 20 wind project developers and permitting authorities. Several teaching options are included. The storyline can be updated as relevant news develops, creating new challenges for Nadine. The case offers an accompanying cash flow calculation model, teaching students that social acceptance and regulatory compliance come at a significant cost. Another option is a role-play game, where students try wearing hats of different project stakeholders: the project developer, the head of municipal government, a local landowner, a journalist, and a member of an environmental NGO, among others. The case also offers a framework to systematically approach project-related risks and develop risk-mitigating strategies. It should be relevant to graduate students from a variety of backgrounds, including communications, finance, law, and economics.
-
PublicationInnovative Green Teaching: a Primer of Innovative Teaching Techniques of Environmental and Energy Topics(University of St.Gallen, 2017)This primer is intended to assist teaching faculty at institutions of higher education with the integration of new teaching techniques in their classrooms. The primer offers a list of possible approaches and provides some useful links, which can serve as inspiration and a starting point. After providing a general overview of interactive teaching techniques, we adapt our examples to the field of teaching environmental and energy topics. While this primer should be useful for teaching a wide range of undergraduate and graduate classes, it has a particular focus on environmental and resource economics, energy policy and economics, entrepreneurship, sustainable business and management.
-
Publication6th Consumer Barometer of Renewable Energy in Cooperation with Raiffeisen(University of St.Gallen, 2016)
-
Publication5th Consumer Barometer of Renewable Energy in Cooperation with Raiffeisen(University of St.Gallen, 2015)
-
