Number of participants
Chapter 4: Analysis and Findings Barriers to Adoption
4.2 Thematic Analysis: Barrier Themes Identified
4.2.1 Knowledge and Awareness
4.2.1.1 Limited Knowledge and Awareness
This sub-theme broader reflects a dearth in knowledge, information, awareness and a consciousness about BIPV from issues relating to its technological constitution to its importance, right to its existence. Without prejudice to the fact that some participants are more technologically inclined, this barrier represents an overview of both technical and non-technical participants. Interestingly, twenty participants, each from both groups commented directly or indirectly on the impact of a lack of knowledge on BIPV adoption. Table 4.2 is a sample of the data which supports the narrative from multiple stakeholders, in addition to several direct quotes from the interviews italicized for emphasis.
9
25
40
0 10 20 30 40 50
Misinformation Skepticism Limited knowledge and awareness
TOTAL Non-Technical Technical
Table 4.2: Sample of participant quotes which show limited knowledge and awareness CODE
NAME
COMMENT
R01AE Hmm, if there is a solar panel system that can function, as an envelope, up to now I am not sure if it will go in that direction.
RO4AE Most of the clients focus on old building methods and even the contractors are not very well educated on these topics…The current contractors is one of the big troubles in our field.
R05AE Let me say again about access, I would love to put PV on my roof, I have looked at it, unfortunately the way the AC are spaced out, it‘s such a random, irregular, thoughtless way that there isn‘t actually enough clear space to put the right number of panels on my roof for inverter or whatever the electricity devices are.
R08ARE I‘ve seen products, and maybe a problem of the expertise to install there, it‘s not diffused enough through social consciousness...Challenge is that the products are not in the market yet. Some are, but it‘s not just that abundance of stuff and not high enough in the public consciousness.
R09ARE It is complicated because ninety-nine percent of the architects or
designers do not have enough knowledge about PV. That is complicated.
R12ARE I think there are enough products but people are not aware.
R18PVE I believe the first issue is awareness, people don‘t know about it.
R22PVU Awareness (said definitively). I don‘t think people are aware of it. We know because we work it this area and we are passionate about it.
R24PVU I met some people who I hired in my company, but they don‘t know how to make design itself, or how to connect, or how to make the structure, which are very basic things.
R26OCE If you went to most of the MEP consultants in this part of the world and demonstrated integrating solar panels into a building, they‘d look at you with a blank face because they wouldn‘t have a clue.
R32OCE About using solar panels on walls, the technology has not developed to that point yet. We have panels and flexible films but all is still in the research stage. In the future, yes, buildings will have solar panels on the walls and windows.
R35OCE There is a lack of specialist knowledge to make good choice of products.
R36CU I have not heard of it. I think maybe because of the people do not have knowledge about it
R40CU I personally don't know how it looks like now or how the technology have improved
Table 4.2: Sample of participant quotes which show limited knowledge and awareness (continued)
CODE NAME
COMMENT
R51CE Maybe lack of awareness of its importance and how it benefits families and the environment.
R60CE That‘s what it is; because our lack of knowledge about it is the reason why we don‘t want to change and look to it.
R64PMI As a real experience, they (Architects) don't really know what's the idea or what's the benefit of making this, so you see.
R65PMI The cost is not an issue if I have a good product that will save my money, but I don't know that I will save my money. The cost is very high, I will not do it.
R68D Personally, if I take myself as benchmark, I just know 20% of the solar thing. There is a big gap for me actually. Basically, I'm a civil engineer, so my only work is to arrange the proper seating for my panel to
sit…For me, there's a big gap because I'm still an old generation engineer.
a) Technical Participants‘ Opinions
Coincidentally, five participants from each of the technical stakeholder groups:
Architects, Architects with research background, PV Specialists, and Other Consultants highlighted varying, but complimenting perspectives on this barrier. To begin with, it was mentioned that there is shallow knowledge about BIPV among professionals (R09ARE; R26OCE). One participant (R09ARE) asserted that 99% lack sufficient knowledge while another stated it clearly in his opinion, “…MEP Consultants in this part of the world have no clue” (R26OCE). Attempting to practically explain the situation with the belief that clients tend to focus on old methods, and building contractors are not very well educated were both raised with this later issue highlighted as “one of the biggest problems in the field‖ (RO4AE). One PV specialist mentioned,
but with uncertainty, the adequacy of knowledge among firefighters to deal with fires which start from the PV cell encapsulant (R19PVE). He went further to explain that the PV panel is laminated with a highly flammable material. Several technical participants across the various groups highlighted other areas of uncertainty and lack of knowledge about BIPV. These include knowledge required for design and installation, design code specifications, handling fires, and AC placement on roof. (R03AE; R05AE; R19PVE;
R21PVE). One architect plainly said,
” They don't know it will be efficient or not.” - R03AE Another, agreed by saying,
“Let me say again about access, I would love to put PV on my roof, I have looked at it, unfortunately the way the AC are spaced out, its‟ such a random, irregular, thoughtless way…when the people were putting the ACs on my roof, they didn‟t think of that, they didn‟t do it.” - R05AE
This last comment relates primarily to BIPV for roof installations, and highlights the limited knowledge of BIPV during the design of that structure. These views were corroborated by the opinion of a PV Specialist on handling of encapsulant fires,
“So, then you also have to think about the fire fighters, you need to consider if they are trained for this. This to me, the fire, is major challenge.” - R19PVE
One participant admitted that what he generally knows about solar is to be installed on the roof (R11ARE). Other comments made about the uncertainty of the feasibility of BIPV as windows or façades, although these technologies already exist.
These comments were made by two different professionals who had the assumption that these ideas would be expensive and complicated (R01AE; R31OCE).
This was stated by an Architect as,
“Hmm, if there is a solar panel system that can function, as an envelope, up to now I am not sure if it will go in that direction maybe it will be very expensive at first…” - R01AE
And further reinforced by another participant as,
“Solar, whether you have the solar facades, windows…I don‟t think it‟s as commercially available and proven as simple solar panels.” - R31OCE
One example of this barrier was pulled from a link between practice and education being the 2019 Solar Decathlon competition held in the UAE (reference the competition). Generally, the decathlon‘s brief encouraged the use of BIPV in the design and construction by students of these prototypes of sustainable houses. However, one participant – who himself was an advisory member of a team noted that out of twenty teams from across the globe, only one team actually applied BIPV (R09ARE). One may infer that there were other constraints but his comment and the opinion of other participants may well confirm that BIPV is a new technology and there is no awareness of the best BIPV solutions yet (R24PVU; R33OCE). As one PV specialist put it,
“So something they don‟t know about, they never tried, they never read about it, they never saw anything about it on TV or anything on YouTube or something, then they are going to worry. . . because it‟s very new, so people are worried about the unknown things.” - R24PVU
This view was further supported by another comment,
“As a local, no awareness of the best solution and new technologies which are needed for new building projects.” - R33OCE
Further scrutiny on the building team members revealed that there is a lack of both professional and local specialists on this subject matter (R33OCE; R35OCE).
Speaking about clients, professionals noted that they are simply not aware, and some have no knowledge about BIPV (R07AU; R12ARE; R18PVE). One architect complained saying,
“Because it‟s not well presented and explained, and UAE is still young. It‟s still young as a country…there is not enough knowledge, let‟s say, not technology. There is not enough knowledge and even if there is…like for me, I know there is, but no one came to explain.” - R07AU
Views of two other professionals confirmed this observation relating to the lack of awareness.
“I think there are enough products but people are not aware.” - R12ARE
“I believe the first issue is awareness, people don‟t know about it.” - R18PVE
One participant stressed that some have never heard and never tried BIPV, and added that people tend to shy away from things they do not know about. He also added that this was based on the concern that in future the system may lead to a cut in power supply (R24PVU). He said,
“So something they don‟t know…they are going to worry that if they put it in their home later on they will shut down the electricity in his house…because it‟s very new, so people are worried about the unknown things.” - R24PVU
Two architects with research background also stressed that the lack of appreciation for the necessity for BIPV (R09ARE) combined with the lack of marketing strategies (R11ARE) may be responsible for the present trend. Both issues raised, however, reflect the fact that there is insufficient knowledge about BIPV benefits and a lack of awareness campaigns or strategies.
b) Non-Technical Participants‘ Opinions
From the perspective of non-technical - six from the Client-UAE Citizen group, twelve from the Client-Expat Group and one from the PMI and Developer group - there is a confirmation that knowledge is a barrier. Specific aspects raised relate to insufficient information and knowledge about BIPV (R37CU; R36CU; R68D), its importance, potentials, benefits to family or environment, types of products, aesthetics and maintenance (R40CU; R51CE; R52CE; R57CE; R62CE). These opinions were reflected in several participant comments,
“I actually have no idea about the various types of this technology.” - R40CU
“I wouldn‟t know the first thing about fixing a solar panel, or what kind of voltage do you use.” - R52CE
“Never. I haven‟t actually…I never thought of that, but that‟s a great idea.” - R62CE Another participant observed that,
” …maybe people don‟t know how valuable it is.” - R57CE
Other aspects, where participants admitted or showed a lack of knowledge, relate to cost issues (R40CU), savings (R65PMI), operation, safety and storage (R61CE) and technological improvements (R40CU). Some participants mentioned reasons for this limited knowledge, stating that it is a new technology and “everything is so fast and complicated” (R60CE). Summarily, it was suggested that some people have just not heard about BIPV (R36CU; R37CU; R38CU), and it has not been well introduced (R41CU). In relation to the green ideology, it was mentioned that,
“Outside the UAE, LEED-, BREEAM-certified buildings always give value to the buildings. Here, people have not started realizing the advantage of green things.” - R68D