HARNESSING SOLAR ENERGIE TECHNOLOGIES: A response to the energy crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26458/jedep.v14i1.881Keywords:
Identifiers, Capabilities, Perceived economic value, Solar energy technology, Adoption, ReadinessAbstract
Globally, harnessing solar energy technology, managing costs, depletion and pollution has become a topical theme. The study examined factors that determine solar energy technology (SET) adoption readiness by sampling 1510 households in South Africa, Botswana, Malawi, Seychelles, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Targeted user identifiers and capabilities improved perceived economic value of solar energy technology were established. Several perceived economic values, barriers and drivers were established as factors determining readiness of a society to adopt solar energy technologies. A model to determine solar energy technology adoption readiness was developed. The study recommended the need for government energy policies that promotes affordability of solar energy technologies. Furthermore, the issue of perceived uncertainty, beliefs about consequences and consumer asymmetric require interventions by development agencies and solar energy companies. Furthermore, there is need for e-platforms and mobile platforms to provide critical information of servicing, installation, backups and the creation of information hubs and innovation hubs.References
Aarakit, S. M, Ntayi, J. M, Wasswac, F, Adaramolad, M. S (2021). Adoption of solar photovoltaic systems in households: Evidence from Uganda, Journal of Cleaner Production, 329 (2021), 12961
Adwek, G., Boxiong, S., Ndolo, P. O., Siagi, Z. O., Chepsaigutt, C., Kemunto, C. M, & Yabo, A. C (2020). The solar energy access in Kenya: a review focusing on Pay-As-You-Go solar home system. Environment Deveopment and Sustainability, 22, 3897–3938
Ahmad, S., Tahar, R. M., Cheng, J. K & Yao. L (2017) Public acceptance of residential solar photovoltaic technology in Malaysia. PSU Research Review, 1(3): p. 242-254.
Ahmed, Y. A., Rashid, A., Adeel, U and Dutta, P. K (2022). Proposing a Framework for Consumers’ Decision on Solar Innovations for Smart Cities Proceedings Volume of the 6th IET International Smart Cities Symposium, 6th SCS-2022, December 6-8, 2022, Bahrain
Aklin, M., Cheng, C & Urpelainen, J (2018). Geography, community, household: adoption of distributed solar power across India. Energy for Sustainability Development Journal. 42, 54–63.
Anteneh, C. (2019). The Determinants of Households’ Adoption of Solar Energy in Rural Ethiopia: The case study of Gurage Zone.
Ashinze, P. C., Tian, J., Nazir, M & Shaheen, I (2021). A Multidimensional Model of Sustainable Renewable Energy Linking Purchase Intentions, Attitude and User Behavior in Nigeria, Sustainability, 13, 10576.
Barrie, J & Cruickshank, H. J (2017). Shedding light on the last mile: A study on the diffusion of Pay As You Go Solar Home Systems in Central East Africa. Energy Policy, 107, 425–436.
Beck, F & Martinot. E., (2004). Renewable energy policies and barriers”, in Encyclopaedia of Energy, C. Cleveland (Ed.), Academic Press, pp. 365 – 383.
Bensch, G., Grimm, M., Huppertz, M., Langbein, J & Peters, J (2018). Are promotion programs needed to establish off-grid solar energy markets? Evidence from rural Burkina Faso. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 90, 1060–1068
Blimpo, M. P & Cosgrove-Davies, M (2019). Electricity Access in Sub-Saharan Africa: Uptake, Reliability, and Complementary Factors for Economic Impact. The World Bank, Washington, DC.
Briguglio, M & Formosa, G (2017). When households go solar: determinants of uptake of a Photovoltaic Scheme and policy insights. Energy Poicy. 108, 154–162.
Brown, J &Hendry, C (2009). Public demonstration projects and field trials: Accelerating commercialization of sustainable technology in solar photovoltaic, Energy Policy, 37, 2560–2573.
Collings, S & Munyehirwe, A (2016). Pay-as-you-go solar PV in Rwanda: evidence of benefits to users and issues of affordability. Field Actions Sience Report, (Special Issue 15, 94–103
Corbett, C. J (2022). The role of place attachment and environmental attitudes in adoption of rooftop solar. Energy Policy, 162, 112764
Creti, A & Barry, M. S (2020). Pay-as-you-go Contracts for Electricity Access: Bridging the Last Mile Gap? A Case Study in Benin. Energy Economics, 104843.
Davis, F. D (1989). Perceived Usefulness, Perceived Ease Of Use, And User Acceptance. MIS Quarterly, 13(3), 319340.
Dijkstra, T. K & Henseler, J (2015). Consistent Partial Least Squares Path Modeling. MIS Quarterly. Management Information Systems Research Center, University of Minnesota 39: 297-316.
Etongo, D & Naidu, H (2022). Determinants of household adoption of solar energy technology in Seychelles in a context of 100% access to electricity, Discover Sustainability, 3, 38
Fornell, C & Larcker, D. F (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error. Journal of Marketing Research, 39-50.
Fikru, M. G (2020). Determinants of electricity bill savings for residential solar panel adopters in the U.S.: a multilevel modeling approach. Energy Policy. 2020(139)111351.
Ford, R., Walton S., Stephenson, J., Rees, D., Scott, M., King, G., Williams, J & Wooliscroft, B (2017). Emerging energy transitions: PV uptake beyond subsidies. Technology Forecasting Social Change, 2017(117), 138–50.
Graziano, M., Fiaschetti, M & Atkinson-Palombo, C (2019). Peer effects in the adoption of solar energy technologies in the United States: an urban case study. Energy Research and Social Science. 2019(48), 75–84.
Grimm, M., Lenz, L., Peters, J & Sievert, M (2019). Demand for Off-Grid Solar Electricity -Experimental Evidence from Rwanda. USAEE Working Paper No. 19-411.
Guta, D. D (2020). Determinants of household use of energy-efficient and renewable energy technologies in rural Ethiopia. Technology in Society, 2020. 61.
Guta, D. D (2018). Determinants of household adoption of solar energy technology in rural Ethiopia. Journal of Cleaner Production, 204, 193–204.
Guta, D. D., Jara J., Adhikari N. P., Chen, Q., Gaur, V & Mirzabaev, A (2017). Assessment of the Successes and Failures of Decentralized Energy Solutions and Implications for the Water–Energy–Food Security Nexus: Case Studies from Developing Countries
Hadush, S & Bhagwat, S (2019). A comparative study of renewable energy and electricity access policies and regulatory frameworks in the Indian Ocean Islands: the case of Mauritius, Seychelles, Madagascar and Comoros. Fiesole: European University Institute; 2019. p. 13–8.
Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M & Sarstedt, M (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2 Ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Hair, J. F, Henseler, J, Dijkstra, T. K, Sarstedt, M (2014) Common Beliefs and Reality about Partial Least Squares. Comments on Ronkko and Evermann. Faculty Publications 3666
Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2013). Partial least squares structural equation modeling: Rigorous applications, better results and higher acceptance. Long Range Planning, 46, 1-12.
Hatamifard, S., Farajallah, S. J & Mirdamadi, S. M (2023). Factors affecting the utilization of solar energy: An approach to sustainable rural development in Iran, Frontiers in Energy Research 11, 1-13
Hyun, S., Taghizadeh-Hesary, F & Shim, H. S (2021). Modeling solar energy system demand using household-level data in Myanmar. Economic Analysis and Policy, 69, 629–639.
IEA (2022), Africa Energy Outlook 2022, International Energy Agency, Paris,
International Renewable Energy Agency – IRENA. (2019) Seychelles Country Page. Renewable Power Capacity and Generation.
Jan, I., Ullah, W & Ashfaq, M (2020). Social acceptability of solar photovoltaic system in Pakistan: key determinants and policy implications. Journal of Cleaner Production, 274, 123140.
Jingura, R. M., Musademba, D & Kamusoko. R (2013). A review of the state of biomass energy technologies in Zimbabwe, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 26, p.652 – 659.
Kardooni, R., Yusoff, S. B & Kari, F. B (2016). Renewable energy technology acceptance in Peninsular Malaysia. Energy Policy, 88: p. 110.
Kihlström, V & Elbe, J (2021). Constructing Markets for Solar Energy—A Review of Literature about Market Barriers and Government Responses, Sustainability, 13, 3273.
Kizilcec, V., Parikh, P & Bisaga, I (2021). Examining the journey of a pay-as-you-go solar home system customer: a case study of Rwanda. Energies 14, 330
Kline, R. B (1998). Principles and Practice of Structural Equation Modeling. New York: The Guilford Press
Kumar, S & Upadhaya, G (2017). Structure Equation Modeling Basic Assumptions and Concept: A Novices Guide 5:10-16.
Kurata, M., Matsui, N., Ikemoto, Y &Tsuboi, H (2018). Do determinants of adopting solar home systems differ between households and micro-enterprises? Evidence from rural Bangladesh. Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129 (PA), 309–316.
Lighting Global, (2020). GOGLA; ESMAP. Off-Grid Solar Market Trends Report 2020. ESMAP, Washington, DC, USA.
Ma, Q and Liu, L (2004). The Technology Acceptance Model: A Meta-Analysis of Empirical Findings, Journal of Organizational and End User Computing, 16(1), 59-72
Makonese. T., Chikowore. G & Annegarn. H. J (2011). Potential and prospects of improved cookstoves (ICS) in Zimbabwe” In Proceedings of the Domestic Use of Energy (DUE), Cape Town, March.
Manjeri, S. A., Ssennono, F. V & Adaramola, M. S (2021). Estimating market potential for solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in Uganda. Frontiers in Energy Research, 9, 36.
Masson, G & Kaizuka, I (2020) Trends in Photovoltaic Applications. In Report IEAPVPS T1-36: 2019; The International Energy Agency: Paris, France.
Mothala, M., Thamae, R & Mpholo, M (2022) Determinants of household energy fuel choice in Lesotho, Journal of Energy in Southern Africa 33(2), 24–34
Nkundabanyanga, S. K (2020). Exploring the link between vulnerability of energy systems and social acceptance of renewable energy in two selected districts of Uganda. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 2020. 14(6): p. 1089-1122.
OECD (2022), “GHG Emissions from fuel combustion (summary)”, IEA CO2 Emissions from Fuel Combustion Statistics: Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Energy (database)
Osunmuyiwa, O & Kalfagianni, A (2016) Transitions In unlikely places: Exploring the conditions for renewable energy adoption in Nigeria, Environmental Innovation Societal Transitions, 217, 1-15
Palit, D., Malhotra, S., Pandey, M.K & Bankoti, N (2013). Solar lighting for rural households: a case of innovative model, in Bihar, India.
Pallant, Y (2001). SPSS Survival Manual: A step by step guide to data analysis using SPSS for windows (3rd Ed.). England: McGraw Hill Open University Press.
Palm, J & Eriksson, E (2018). Residential solar electricity adoption: how households in Sweden search for and use information. Energy Sustainability and Socciety. 2018(1), 1–9.
Palm, J (2017). Peer effects in residential solar photovoltaic adoption: a mixed methods study of Swedish users. Energy Research & Social Science Journal. 2017(26), 1–10.
Qureshia, T., Ullah, K & Arentsen M (2017). Factors responsible for solar PV adoption at household level: a case of Lahore. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 2017(78), 754–63.
Rahut, D., Mottaleb, K., Ali, A & Aryal J (2017). The use and determinants of solar energy by Sub-Saharan African households. International Journal of Sustainable Energy 2017(37), 718–35.
Rai V., Reeves, D. C & Margolis, R (2016) Overcoming barriers and uncertainties in the adoption of residential solar PV, Renewable Energy 89 (2016) 498-505
Rastogi, C (2018). M-Kopa solar: lighting up the dark continent. South Asian Journal of Bussiness Management Cases 7 (2), 93–103.
Reyes-Mercado, P & Rajagopal, R (2017). Adoption of renewable energy technologies in Mexico: The role of cognitive factors and innovation attributes. International Journal of Energy Sector Management, 11(4), 626-649.
Rolffs, P., Ockwell, D & Byrne, R (2015). Beyond technology and finance: pay-as-you-go sustainable energy access and theories of social change. Environ. Planning A: Economy and Space 47 (12), 2609–2627.
Sanyal, S., Prins, J., Visco, F & Pinchot, A (2016). Stimulating Pay-As-You-Go Energy Access in Kenya and Tanzania: the Role of Development Finance. World Resources Institute.
Schmela, M., Beauvais, A., Chevillard, N., Guillén Paredes, M. Heisz, M., Rossi, R., Schmela, M., Whitten, D., Baca, J & Telemcioglu, F (2018) Global Market Outlook: For Solar Power 2018–2022; Solar Power Europe: Brussels, Belgium, 28 January 2018.
Strupeit, L (2017). An innovation system perspective on the drivers of soft cost reduction for photovoltaic deployment: The case of Germany. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 77, 273–286
Taber, K. S (2018). The Use of Cronbach’s Alpha When Developing and Reporting Research Instruments in Science Education, Research in Science Education (2018) 48:1273–1296
Tahir, S., Ahmad, M., Abd-ur-Rehman, H.M., Shakir, S., (2021). Techno-economic assessment of concentrated solar thermal power generation and potential barriers in its deployment in Pakistan. Journal of Cleaner Production. 293, 126125.
Timilsina, G. R., Kurdgelashvili, L & Narbel, P. A (2012). Solar energy: Markets, economics and policies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, 449–465.
Ugulu, A. I (2019). Barriers and motivations for solar photovoltaic (PV) adoption in urban Nigeria. International Journal of Sustain Energy Planning Management 2019(21), 19–34.
Wah, N. G., Fitriana, M & Arumugam, T (2023). Assumptions for Structure Equation Modeling (SEM), Normality of Data Distribution Analysis & Model Fit Measures. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology & Toxicology. SRC/JCET-155.
World Bank (2022). The energy progress report. Washington, D.C: World Bank.
Yadav, P., Heynen, A. P & Palit, D (2019). Pay-as-you-go Financing: a Model for Viable and Widespread Deployment of Solar Home Systems in Rural India, vol. 48. Energy for Sustainable Development Journal, pp. 139–153.
Zander, K. K (2020). Unrealised opportunities for residential solar panel in Australia. Energy Policy. 2020 (142).
Zeru, A. M & Guta, D. D (2017). Factors Influencing Household Adoption of Solar Home System in Baso Liben District, Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Wilfred Ukpere, Dr Leonard Muzanenhamo, Dr Felix Chikosha, Dr Samuel Sixpence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People by Authors is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Based on a work at http://ojs.spiruharet.ro/index.php/jedep/issue/archive.