An Outcome-Based Coupling–Efficiency Framework for Evaluating Solar Expansion Performance

Document Type : Research Article

Authors
Ankur Gupta 1
Ruchika Kulshrestha 2
1 Institute of Business Management , GLA University, Mathura
2 Institute of Business Management, GLA University, Mathura, India
10.22059/jser.2026.410866.1717
Abstract
Traditional measures of solar energy transitions primarily focus on investment growth and installed capacity rather than on whether policy-driven implementation delivers meaningful energy outcomes. This study provides an analytical approach for assessing solar energy expansion by focusing on realized outcomes rather than capacity growth alone. It examines the relationships among investment behaviour, policy signals, technology adoption, and deployment efficiency. The research offers two indicators,
PIACI (Policy_Investment_Adoption_Coupling_Index) and CESA (Carbon_Efficiency_of_Solar_Adoption) based on cross-country panel data on 2010-2023 collected on a global energy and policy database. These metrics reflect both the effectiveness with which energy is produced, as well as the consistency of policy-based growth. The findings reveal substantial differences in national transition pathways through performance-regime analysis and the assessment of regime shifts. The findings indicate that moderate but stable coupling can prove more effective than aggressive but volatile expansion strategies and that strong policy coupling does not necessarily ensure efficient performance. The proposed framework will take renewable energy evaluation to a new level by combining the concepts of coupling, efficiency, and time dynamics to offer an effective instrument of evidence-based solar policy development.
Keywords
Solar energy transition
Renewable energy policy
Policy effectiveness
Sustainable energy systems
Coupling&ndash
efficiency regimes
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Journal of Solar Energy Research
Volume 11, Issue 3
Summer 2026
Pages 3267-3284