Photovoltaic technological innovation system (PV TIS) in Iran: identifying barriers, incentives, dynamics and developing policies

Abstract

Transition to sustainable energies is a fast-growing field of research. Modeling complex systems can expand our possibilities in this field through quantitative analysis. Photovoltaic technology is one the best potential energy sources in Iran but until now, this technology has not been diffused appropriately. According to the review of research on PV TIS, it was found that in developing countries such as Iran, quantitative analyses based on simulation by system dynamics have not been performed and also, positive and negative effective factors on this system (incentives and barriers), not comprehensively identified. Therefore, in this study, at first, positive and negative effective factors in the PV TIS of Iran were identified and in the next stage, innovation engines were extracted. In order to develop improvement policies, Iran’s PV TIS has been modeled using a system dynamics approach, and quantitative analyzes related to its performance have been presented using Vensim Ple software. Finally, in this study, some policies have been developed to promote PV TIS performance.

Keywords:

• photovoltaic (PV)
• technological innovation system (TIS)
• incentives and barriers
• system dynamics (SD)
• policy making

Notes

1 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/01/17/new-world-bank-tool-helps-map-solar-potential

2 https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/8237c23b-1fde-41a8-ba8b-9d136f0eafef/Electricity_documentation.pdf

3 https://dictionary.cambridge.org/

4 https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2017/01/17/new-world-bank-tool-helps-map-solar-potential https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/8237c23b-1fde-41a8-ba8b-9d136f0eafef/Electricity_documentation.pdf Research such as acquiring technical knowledge for making ohmic connections for solar cells and cognition studies, technical-economic feasibility of application and design of renewable energy hybrid systems (wind-diesel-photovoltaic-biomass and solar) in Iran.

5 This refers to issues such as the law on reforming the pattern of energy consumption and the support of the National Development Fund for the construction of renewable power plants.

6 Supporting laws such as the guaranteed purchase price for renewable electricity, increasing the duration of the guaranteed contract for the purchase of electricity from 5 to 20 years, customs exemption for imports of renewable power plant equipment and increasing the base rate of guaranteed purchase using domestic equipment, and duties of 30 Rials per consumption of each KW/H on the national grid.

7 Such as conducting potential assessment and preparing the country's solar atlas and establishing a solar energy technology development center