Drivers and challenges of solar photovoltaics (PV) adoption by Turkish manufacturers

Abstract

AbstractThis study addresses the critical gap in literature caused by previous qualitative studies on PV adoption focusing primarily on households, which have limited access to specific industry sectors across different countries. As far as we know, no other research has investigated the manufacturing and industrial firms’ perspective on Renewable energy and, specifically, PV adaptation in Türkiye. We use a qualitative semi-structured survey approach accommodated in Turkish Organized Industrial Zones. According to the interviews carried out within the scope of this study, an increase in electricity prices and a decrease in the payback period by PV installment are seen as the most critical drivers of PV adoption in the manufacturing sector. Energy security concerns and climate change policies also help increase the pace of PV adaptation. One of the biggest challenges in PV adoption seems to be technical challenges due to the limited capacity of the transformer, bureaucratic problems due to PV applications, supply side problems due to long wait times by the suppliers, knowledge and information problems, architectural and space problem that are also linked to the legal constraints and financial difficulties due to the lack of access to credit due to the macroeconomic situation of the country.