Development of a model towards the improvement of building energy performance in South African public universities using solar photovoltaics

Abstract

Buildings perform various important functions in society and their construction and maintenance have evolved over the years. The call to construct sustainable buildings has made individuals and organisations more aware that they cannot continue on the old trajectory and expect better results. Globally, universities have several buildings which need energy to operate and because the consumption of energy from non-renewable sources contributes significantly to carbon emissions, there is presently the need to construct and retrofit buildings to consume less energy and generate renewable energy on-site to reduce carbon emission. In South Africa, solar photovoltaics (PVs) are the most deployed renewable energy technology. Therefore, to partly advance the sustainability of buildings in South African public universities in terms of renewable energy development, the deployment of PV is the ideal choice. However, deployment is not yet at the desired level at public universities in South Africa to contribute significantly to the change that is needed. From empirical evidence, little is known about the progress that universities have made in installing PVs, and the factors that engender and hinder deployment. Therefore, this study was undertaken to investigate the phenomenon and develop a model to advance the sustainability of buildings through the deployment of PVs in public universities in South Africa. Accordingly, the specific research objectives were to: (1) ascertain the progress made in installing PVs on public campuses, (2) identify and evaluate the drivers for deployment, (3) identify and evaluate the barriers to deployment, (4) evaluate the influence of the drivers and barriers on deployment, and (5) develop a model to advance building sustainability. A sequential exploratory mixed methods research design was adopted for the study. Firstly, regarding the progress in deployment, it was observed that the minimum total capacity of installed solar electricity generation was 6 MW, and the systems were either purchased outright or procured through power purchase agreements. It was also found that most universities were engaging third-parties to design, install and service the systems. The systems were mounted on rooftops, on the ground (in open spaces), and on high poles with tracking devices. Secondly, the results highlighted that a total of 18 drivers engender the deployment of PVs in the sector. The top five drivers identified were: the reduction of the energy costs of the university, reduction of energy-related greenhouse gases, enhancement of university sustainability performance, contribution to the attainment of the sustainable development goals, and potential use for research opportunities for students and staff. Thirdly, based on the results, the conclusion was that a total of 12 barriers hamper deployment. Some of the barriers included the lack of financial resources, lack of green building targets, lack of clear policy direction, lack of government incentives, and lack of demand from government project financiers. Fourthly, the results of the partial least squares structural equation modeling analysis established that ‘direct benefits’ have a statistically significant positive influence on deployment, and ‘government-related barriers’ have a statistically significant negative influence on deployment. Lastly, based on all the findings, a Photovoltaics Deployment Acceleration Model was proposed, which provided insight into actions that should be taken to reinforce the drivers and eliminate the barriers to the use of PV energy in public universities. The study contributed to theory by bridging the literature gap by providing empirical evidence on campus sustainability from an African perspective. The findings have practical implications as they offer insight into how university stakeholders can boost deployment. At the policy level, the study provided information on the contribution that public universities in South Africa have made to Sustainable Development Goal 7, and evidence that can help policy-makers to develop relevant policies and renewable energy-related development targets for the sect