Stakeholder subjectivities regarding barriers and drivers to the introduction of utility-scale solar photovoltaic power in Brazil

Barriers and drivers of renewable energy systems are contingent upon particular technologies, social organizations, and institutions. Identification of barriers and drivers is necessary to devise policies and strategies to facilitate the introduction and dissemination of renewable energy generation. In 2002 the Brazilian government encouraged the adoption of renewable energy technologies such as wind, biomass and small hydroelectricity. Beginning in 2014, Brazil's federal regulatory agency started auctions aiming to develop ~12 GWp of utility-scale solar photovoltaic (PV). This paper explores the barriers and drivers to introduction of the solar photovoltaic technology in Brazil by focusing on the analysis of empirically determined subjectivities among the electricity power sector actors in the case of the Minas Gerais state. We identify and describe three perspectives (factors) using Q-method: (1) "We can do it" (2) "Step-by-step"; and (3) "It's not the money." Within these perspectives, planning for siting power plants, lack of transmission network, and biodiversity impacts were identified as three main statistically significant and highly ranked barriers. Identification of social perspectives may avoid conflict barriers to introducing utility-scale PV and suggest socially acceptable solutions for technical and economic issues. - Highlights: • Social perspectives include diverse views of barriers and drivers to PV expansion. • Infrastructure, weak community outreach, and poor planning are barriers. • Energy planners view sustainability as more than auction prices and infrastructure. • Stakeholders interpret potential PV conflicts similarly to hydropower conflicts.