Work

Does solar interest extend to battery storage? Understanding shared and distinct motivators of adoption among German households

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Household battery storage systems (BSSs) are increasingly installed alongside residential photovoltaics (PV), yet behavioral research on BSS adoption remains limited. This study investigates whether established frameworks explaining PV uptake extend to BSS adoption and whether households perceive the two technologies as distinct or interconnected. Using a proposed integrated framework combining insights from Diffusion of Innovations theory, Theory of Planned Behavior, and Value-Belief-Norm theory, we surveyed German households ( N = 371) and compared non-adopters, PV adopters, and PV-BSS adopters on psychological determinants of adoption. Despite PV being perceived as somewhat more visible, socially endorsed, and environmentally beneficial than BSSs, households did not appear to evaluate PV and BSS as entirely separate decisions. Compared to non-adopters, both adopter groups expressed more favorable beliefs about the technologies, with PV-BSS adopters perceiving the strongest benefits, lowest expense concerns, and reporting the highest personal innovativeness. Measurement model comparisons further indicated that PV- and BSS-specific beliefs were highly correlated, pointing to a unified decision-making structure. Structural equation modeling revealed that adoption intention was positively associated with personal norms to use renewable energy, perceived social approval, innovativeness, and perceived personal benefits, while expense concerns were related to lower intentions. Overall, our integrated model explained 42% of the variance in intention. Perceived control over installation was not significantly related to intention. These findings provide empirical support for a triangulated theoretical framework in the context of household energy technology adoption, underscoring the inclusion of norm activation processes into models of PV-BSS adoption and potentially other low-carbon technologies.

Source: Energy Research & Social Science

DOI: 10.1016/j.erss.2026.104996

Authors: Stephanie Stumpf, Daniel Sloot, Wolf Fichtner

Institution: Karlsruhe Institute of Technology

Language: English

Topic: Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Affordable and clean energy, Climate action

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $3,450