Photovoltaic anxiety? Sentiment analysis based on online comments in residential photovoltaic power generation

With the advancement of the clean energy transition, residential photovoltaic (PV) power generation has become a key pathway for rural energy transformation and the promotion of rural revitalization. However, some members of the public have cognitive biases and a crisis of trust toward it. Much existing research on energy transition focuses on analyzing influencing factors and theoretical deliberation, with relatively limited in-depth investigation from the public perspective regarding their responses and attitudes. Given this gap, this paper intends to conduct sentiment analysis on online discussions concerning residential PV power generation in China. Objective: To reveal public sentiment orientations and key concerns, delve into underlying issues, and provide effective recommendations for promoting the development of residential PV systems. Method: Taking China as a case, the study conducted high-frequency keyword analysis, semantic network analysis, and sentiment analysis on 2371 online comments related to “Residential photovoltaic,” “Distributed photovoltaic,” or “Rural photovoltaic power generation.” Key Findings: The results of sentiment analysis showed that positive sentiment accounted for 65.71%, neutral sentiment for 15.08%, and negative sentiment for 19.20%. However, segmental statistics revealed that the combined proportion of high and moderate positive emotions was only 4.79%, while that of high and moderate negative emotions reached 5.63%. This shows public sentiment toward residential PV is a mixture of positive and negative feelings, with negative emotions dominating. These negative emotions focused on keywords such as “Contract,” “Being deceived,” “Radiation,” and “Roof.” Root Causes: The primary issues arise from four key areas: unilateral imbalance in rights and obligations during contract exchanges; exploitation of information asymmetry among the elderly; amplified costs due to limited or unknown technological literacy; and hidden cost deprivation related to rooftop rights. To address these concerns, this paper puts forward the following recommendations. First, standardize the contract exchange system. Second, launch targeted protection initiatives for the elderly population. Third, establish a multi-faceted, collaborative system for popularizing scientific knowledge about technology. Fourth, standardize rooftop resource exchange practices.