TITLE:
The Current Context and Future Trends of the Photovoltaic Business Models in Central and Eastern Europe: Case Study—Romania
AUTHORS:
Adrian Dumitru Tanţău, Maria Alexandra Nichifor, Horaţiu Regneală
KEYWORDS:
Business Model; Photovoltaics; Photovoltaic Business Model; Solar Energy
JOURNAL NAME:
Smart Grid and Renewable Energy,
Vol.5 No.3,
March
21,
2014
ABSTRACT: The evolution of the PV industry has
represented one of the main focus points of economic and political debates and
research of the last ten years in Europe. However, these discussions have only
presented general aspects of the industry development and accomplishments with little
information about the companies’ actual practices. The present study aims to
inquire the PV field in Romania further, by researching the currently
implemented and the future business models of firms producing solar energy.
Using the Delphi method based on questionnaires and interviews with experts of
this field, this paper shows the key elements of business models in the PV
field that reflect the companies’ practices and future trends and expectations
regarding the internal activity of the firm and the environmental changes from
the external environment of the company, which influence the directions of the
PV domain. The relevance of this study is based on the importance of the
applied PV business model elements in order to ensure the survival and
expansion of the company in a dynamic field that faces continuous legal,
economic and technological changes and challenges. The results of this study
have some directions that could be applied in most of the European countries
where the PV industry is developing.