Adoption of renewable energy technologies (RETs): A survey on rural construction in China

With the increasing requirements from rural residents to improve housing conditions in recent years, renewable energy technologies (RETs) have received widespread attention in rural construction in China. RETs have been recognized as one of the most important ways to beautify the rural ecological environment, enrich the energy supply of rural households and reduce country dwellers’ financial burden from commercial energy consumption. In this paper, the status of China’s rural RETs and their intrinsic demand are introduced. Then, the key factors affecting the adoption and the popularization of RETs in China’s rural construction are analyzed using a questionnaire-based survey. The findings suggest that initial investment is the most important factor for the adoption of RETs by China’s rural residents. Subsidies, financial support, technical service support and communication also influence the adoption of RETs.

► Status of applying RETs in China’s rural construction is reviewed.
► Survey on the adoption of RETs in rural China is described and analyzed.
► Difficulties and rural residents’ attitude in process of adopting RETs are discussed.
► Key factors affecting RETs adoption in China’s rural construction are identified.