Product-service systems in solar PV deployment programs: What can we learn from the California Solar Initiative?

• Published in: Resources, conservation and recycling Vol. 140; pp. 145 - 157
• Main Authors: Schmidt-Costa, Jean Rodrigo, Uriona-Maldonado, Mauricio, Possamai, Osmar
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01-01-2019
• Subjects: Bass Diffusion Model; Diffusion theory; Product-service systems; Solar PV; System Dynamics Modeling; System Dynamics Modeling; Diffusion theory; Bass Diffusion Model; Solar PV; Product-service systems
• ISSN: 0921-3449; 1879-0658
• DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2018.09.017

•We use the California Solar Initiative (CSI) Program as case and we study the product-service system (PSS) in the CSI with system dynamics.•Our model shows the CSI successful dynamics based on PSS.•We use the model to demonstrate the positive effects of programs such as CSI elsewhere.•Positive externalities are produced after the introduction of CSI-like programs.•PSS is very promising for CSI-like programs elsewhere.
The product-service system (PSS) model is a potential alternative for increasing the adoption of PV systems. The California Solar Initiative (CSI) incentive program aiming to expand the Solar PV installed base in California, included the PSS option. Little is known, however, about the contribution of the PSS model on the CSI program and if the CSI program acted as a catalyzer of long-term positive/secondary effects. In this sense, the aim of this paper is to twofold, first, to assess the contribution of the PSS model on the CSI program and second, to investigate if the CSI program generated long-term network externalities. A system dynamics model was built in order to visualize i) the influence of the PSS model on the CSI and ii) the long-term effects, i.e. network externalities of the CSI program. The results suggest, the PSS model led to a significant increase in the installed base of the program and in turn, the program led to positive network externalities.