Consumer Preferences for Distributed Generation Technologies, Delphi Technologies

ANTARES conducted an innovative, first-of-a-kind study of consumer preferences for distributed power generation technologies. This study contributed to distributed energy resources strategic planning by determining which distributed power technology attributes consumers valued most. Technology attributes examined included cost, noise generation, emissions, standard warranty, reliability, visual appearance, and ability to allow grid independence or provide back-up power. ANTARES was partnered with Harris Interactive (a world leader in market research, and authors of the often-cited Harris Polls) to conduct the survey via the Internet. ANTARES' study made use of a conjoint analysis method which required respondents to make shopping-style choices, where they had to choose between competing products (each with a different set of product attributes). This forced respondents to make trade-offs between products with different sets of attributes, and thereby offered results which closely resembled a real-world shopping (product comparison) situation.