Modeling and Policy Study for Information Asymmetry Problem of Photovoltaic Module Quality in China

ABSTRACT

With the growing concern over climate change and aided by technology development, photovoltaic (PV) installation has risen rapidly in China. Because PV modules are fully packed and the sites for PV installation may be remote from investors, it is difficult for investors to determine the actual quality of PV modules. To simulate the information asymmetry of PV quality and its impacts on market reaction, an agent-based model at social network scale is applied based on the data of Chinese PV market. To mitigate the quality problem while expanding the financing scale for PV projects, two policy options are proposed, including information disclosure and penalties. The simulation results indicate that investors are more sensitive to the negative attitudes of surrounding people, and that raising dividend ratios will drive both defaults and joining ratios higher. We further discuss policy implications of findings to ensure the prosperity of the PV financing market and the high quality of PV systems at the same time.

KEY WORDS:

• complex network
• Herd effect
• information asymmetry
• photovoltaic module

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 71774171) and Philosophy and Social Science Foundation of Beijing (Grant No. 18GLC084).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [71774171]; Beijing Municipal Social Science Foundation [18GLC084];