The Netherlands 109
Risk elicitation
While the pathway promotes expansion of solar PV, there are multiple factors
that can positively or negatively influence its implementation. These are likely to
differ between small and larger- scale applications. When taking a decision on pursuing a pathway, it is important to understand both the potential consequences of
the pathway and the implementation barriers in terms of how easily, and against
what costs, these can be cleared. Therefore, key questions answered in this chapter
are: what are the possible consequences of, and implementation barriers to,
rooftop or ground- mounted solar PV systems? How are these reflected by risk profiles of the pathway? And how can these risks be mitigated?
4
Research process and methods
To identify the implementation and consequential risks of solar PV acceleration in
the Netherlands, a literature review was conducted which has been supported by a
series of semi- structured qualitative interviews during 2016 and 2017 with 19 relevant public and private stakeholders in different relevant sectors and professions.
The initial list of the expert stakeholders was put together based on the prior knowledge of team members (purposive sampling). The list was later expanded by adding
more expert stakeholders based on inputs from early interview subjects (snowball
sampling). Nineteen experts have been interviewed, who were selected from seven
stakeholder groups: public body (n = 5), businesses (n = 3), academia (n = 3), energy
think tanks (n = 3), grid/network operators (n = 2), an energy co- operative (n = 1),
and an environmental non- governmental organisation (n = 1). The interviewees’
expertise spans from technical design and installing of solar PVs to economic,
behavioural, and spatial aspects of low- emission transitions. Stakeholders were asked
about their views on the transition pathways and policy instruments, implementation barriers, consequential risks, and recommended changes to address these risks.
The interviewed stakeholders have different interests regarding solar PV implementation. For instance, while a policymaker at the national level may strive for
achieving renewable energy and climate goals, a local policymaker needs to
accommodate relevant measures in local or regional spatial planning. Network
operators have a key interest in maintaining grid stability with accompanying
resources. Research institutes have a broad interest in understanding problems
related to pursuing energy and climate goals and formulating solutions that serve
all parties involved in the energy transition. Environmental NGOs interviewed
expressed mainly concerns about how low- emission energy and climate options
could be hampered by policy, economic, and social obstacles. On the commercial
side, interviewed business stakeholders explained their experiences with setting up
solar parks and the opportunities and limitations to that. Their experience resulted
in often practical issues, such whether and how to clean panels in a solar park,
responsibility for connecting to the grid, what professionals are usually asked in
order to construct a park, etc. We also included in our stakeholder assessment representatives of an energy co- operative who, from a more ideological perspective,
strive for locally generated clean energy.
Risk elicitation
While the pathway promotes expansion of solar PV, there are multiple factors
that can positively or negatively influence its implementation. These are likely to
differ between small and larger- scale applications. When taking a decision on pursuing a pathway, it is important to understand both the potential consequences of
the pathway and the implementation barriers in terms of how easily, and against
what costs, these can be cleared. Therefore, key questions answered in this chapter
are: what are the possible consequences of, and implementation barriers to,
rooftop or ground- mounted solar PV systems? How are these reflected by risk profiles of the pathway? And how can these risks be mitigated?
4
Research process and methods
To identify the implementation and consequential risks of solar PV acceleration in
the Netherlands, a literature review was conducted which has been supported by a
series of semi- structured qualitative interviews during 2016 and 2017 with 19 relevant public and private stakeholders in different relevant sectors and professions.
The initial list of the expert stakeholders was put together based on the prior knowledge of team members (purposive sampling). The list was later expanded by adding
more expert stakeholders based on inputs from early interview subjects (snowball
sampling). Nineteen experts have been interviewed, who were selected from seven
stakeholder groups: public body (n = 5), businesses (n = 3), academia (n = 3), energy
think tanks (n = 3), grid/network operators (n = 2), an energy co- operative (n = 1),
and an environmental non- governmental organisation (n = 1). The interviewees’
expertise spans from technical design and installing of solar PVs to economic,
behavioural, and spatial aspects of low- emission transitions. Stakeholders were asked
about their views on the transition pathways and policy instruments, implementation barriers, consequential risks, and recommended changes to address these risks.
The interviewed stakeholders have different interests regarding solar PV implementation. For instance, while a policymaker at the national level may strive for
achieving renewable energy and climate goals, a local policymaker needs to
accommodate relevant measures in local or regional spatial planning. Network
operators have a key interest in maintaining grid stability with accompanying
resources. Research institutes have a broad interest in understanding problems
related to pursuing energy and climate goals and formulating solutions that serve
all parties involved in the energy transition. Environmental NGOs interviewed
expressed mainly concerns about how low- emission energy and climate options
could be hampered by policy, economic, and social obstacles. On the commercial
side, interviewed business stakeholders explained their experiences with setting up
solar parks and the opportunities and limitations to that. Their experience resulted
in often practical issues, such whether and how to clean panels in a solar park,
responsibility for connecting to the grid, what professionals are usually asked in
order to construct a park, etc. We also included in our stakeholder assessment representatives of an energy co- operative who, from a more ideological perspective,
strive for locally generated clean energy.