Empowering the Energy Transition Through Virtual Reality: A Study on Promoting Photovoltaic Solutions

• Venkatesh Daggupati

  Author

The global transition toward renewable energy sources demands innovative strategies to enhance public engagement and comprehension of sustainable technologies. This study investigates the efficacy of Virtual Reality (VR) as an educational medium for promoting photovoltaic (PV) system adoption within the Austrian context. Recognizing the perceived complexity and inaccessibility of renewable energy solutions, our research harnesses VR's immersive capabilities to bridge knowledge gaps and foster informed decision-making. An initial evaluation of an existing VR application, KaisergasseVR, established baseline metrics for user experience and learning outcomes. Drawing upon these insights, we developed SolarPowerVR, a novel interactive VR application that enables users to explore realistic virtual environments, manipulate PV panel configurations, and observe real-time energy production dynamics. Our empirical findings reveal that SolarPowerVR significantly enhances user comprehension of PV system functionality compared to less interactive counterparts. However, the results indicate that interactivity alone may not adequately facilitate the acquisition of specific factual knowledge, such as optimal panel orientation, even while it supports conceptual understanding of PV system functionality. This research contributes to the evolving discourse on VR-based environmental education, offering practical insights for designing immersive tools that promote sustainable energy adoption and support the broader energy transition agenda.

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