Decoding the shift: Assessing household energy transition and unravelling the reasons for resistance or adoption of solar photovoltaic

Francis Kyere, Dongying Sun, Gertrude Dotse Bampoe, Naana Yaa Gyamea Kumah, Dennis Asante

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The transition to a sustainable economy with technological innovations has gained momentum in emerging economies. Among these innovations, household-based solar systems have emerged as one of the rapidly expanding sources of low-carbon power globally, possessing the potential to become the largest renewable energy source by mid-century. However, there is still a need to investigate the transition process of solar PV systems, considering the components affecting the acceptability or resistance of solar PV systems among households, particularly in Ghana. To address this, the current research employed thematic analysis through semi-structured questions with 22 heads of households, including both solar photovoltaic adopters and non-adopters. The interviews were designed to elicit attitudes, values, and reasons shaping households' motivations to embrace or resist solar PV systems. The results indicate that household values and attitudes in addition to context-specific variables such as cost implications, performance expectancy, technological complexity, and market design are major reasons against solar PV adoption whereas energy independence, cost saving, peer effects, and environmental concerns are pivotal reasons for solar PV adoption among the Ghanaian households. This study offers a comprehensive assessment of various factors that impact household behavior in Ghana's energy sector toward solar PV adoption. It provides valuable insights that can fuel the switch to sources of clean energy and inspire change in both developed and emerging economies, contributing to global efforts to combat climate change. These findings offer novel perspectives to energy stakeholders, managers, policymakers, governments, and experts about household behaviors toward adopting solar PV systems.

Original languageEnglish
Article number123030
Number of pages11
JournalTECHNOLOGICAL FORECASTING AND SOCIAL CHANGE
Volume198
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jan 2024

Keywords

  • Adoption behavior
  • Behavioral reasoning theory
  • Household energy transition
  • Influencing factors
  • Solar PV

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