Going solar? The role of knowledge in shaping social acceptance of citizen-financed PV projects in Switzerland

CiFi PV projects facilitate broader public participation in solar energy, particularly among those unable to install their own rooftop systems. Despite their potential, these projects are under-researched. This study explores whether CiFi PV can engage diverse populations or if it mainly attracts the same individuals as personal rooftop PV. It examines the role of tacit and explicit knowledge, as measured by education and solar experience, in the acceptance of CiFi PV, as well as in the evaluation of project characteristics that motivate people to choose CiFi PV. Using a Swiss conjoint experiment, findings suggest that the inclusive potential of CiFi PV may be limited, with similar preferences observed across knowledge groups.