Study on awareness and willingness to bear cost for introduction of renewable energy in the household sector (in Korea)

With heightening of awareness on global warming and rationalization of energy use, there is an increasing attention in the household sector about introduction of renewable energy. In terms of policy, distribution plans for 30,000 photovoltaic houses and one million green homes are underway, Studies on awareness of innovators are required to increase supply of renewable energy in the household sector. Accordingly in this study, a survey was conducted for the purpose of examining awareness and willingness to bear cost for introduction of renewable energy, focusing on photovoltaic power, wind power and fuel cells. The results are as follows. In regards to introduction of renewable energy, about 30% of households responded that "I do not want to use renewable energy even if there are no costs to be borne" and 44% of households responded that "I am willing to install renewable energy within the cost of 500,000 won". In general, households showed low willingness to implement renewable energy. Increased awareness cannot be seen as increased willingness to introduce corresponding technology, but increased awareness on a technology can show more favorable position on the technology.