Number of participants
Chapter 4: Analysis and Findings Barriers to Adoption
4.2 Thematic Analysis: Barrier Themes Identified
4.2.1 Knowledge and Awareness
4.2.1.2 Misinformation
“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
a) Technical Participants‘ Opinions
The opinions of one architect and three PV specialists reveal that both professionals and non-professionals have misconstrued certain vital issues regarding BIPV. Firstly, a different point of view regarding BIPV cost, argued that people with this conviction had been misinformed. (R19PVE). This participant‘s view was explained in the following terms,
“Look at the idea of the cost of BIPV. It is a misconception. I did my personal research and it is just about 10-20% extra on the cost. To those who complain about the cost, I say, you are getting money out of something (glazing) which you did not get anything out of before. So the little extra you pay is okay. You already save on BIPV. You had a piece of glass not producing; now it is, should you not take it?” - R19PVE
The logic of this participant‘s view is, however, debatable and subject to verification due extraneous issues which impact BIPV cost such as differences in building design, BIPV product specifications and bidding/contractual agreements. Yet, as would later be discussed under the ―Economic‖ theme, the initial cost of BIPV is considered high by almost half of stakeholders who participated in this study.
An architect, mentioned that BIPV products ―it needs a frame…it should always face the east/west orientation to maximize solar capture” (R01AE). However, both suggestions are inaccurate; in fact, frameless BIPV have been used in one of the few BIPV projects in the UAE. Also, in general practice the BIPV orientation largely depends on the site location and the building form, and other environmental factors (Agrawal & Tiwari, 2010).
On a different note, a PV specialist argued that some people erroneously exaggerate BIPV safety concerns (R24PVU), while another said some clients have unrealistic power capacity expectations (R21PVE). This PV specialist stated that,
“They don‟t know about it. Let me tell you, I live in Hatta, whenever I speak with people, they ask why the Shams Dubai installed PV on buildings. They ask about it.
But people say funny things like, they think they won‟t have to pay DEWA for electricity bills or they will use it for the ACs.” - R21PVE
b) Non-Technical Participants‘ Opinions
Four Clients who are expatriates and one developer made comments which tend to agree that misinformation is a barrier to BIPV adoption in the UAE. For example, it was mentioned that general knowledge about Estidama as a sustainability initiative – which encourages BIPV adoption, is just for ―Specialists‖. This participant said,
“I think this information are (is) just for the specialists. Common people don't know anything about Estidama, they know it's a regulation you need to meet.” - R65PMI
However, this contradicts the global, all-inclusive mindset behind sustainability and environmental accountability. Other specific areas of misinformation relate to the cost, product types and aesthetics (R52CE; R54CE; R57CE; R61CE). One participant said,
“So I think decoration is important…and in five more years they‟ll have a more decorative panels.” - R52CE
Other participants expressed obvious misinformation about maintenance. For example,
“I think (cleaning) it‟s probably like an annual thing.” - R54CE
“We got to look at also maybe every five year(s) or ten year(s), they need replacing.”
- R61CE
Another participant exhibited total surprise when asked about the cost of maintenance,
“Oh no, I wasn‟t. I never thought (the maintenance cost) … I thought maybe it‟s just kind of a one-time buy and you just put it on there.” - R57CE
One participant mentioned that decorative solar panels are only “a thing of the future” (R52CE). While these reactions may be a clear sign of a simple lack of information, the misinformation does greater harm as this shortcoming may continue to perpetuate and dissuade others from adopting BIPV. Furthermore, as will be explained in details under the ―Social‖ theme, some of interviewees admitted that their notions about BIPV are the result of perspectives and information from others. Also, the notion that bright sunlight always equates high amount of energy was refuted. This was stated as,
“…everyone thinks that UAE has a good percentage of their weather where it's bright sunny light and you can generate watts and watts of electricity, but I don't think that's the thing. If you can maintain it properly, even with 30% sunlight you can generate electricity.” - R68D.