DETERMINANTS OF ADOPTION OF DOMESTIC RENEWABLE ENERGY IN KENYA: A CASE SOLAR POWER IN KITUI COUNTY
Abstract
In spite of the huge efforts and investments in the domestic renewable projects to alleviate many energy pressing problems in developing countries, such as rural energy shortages, low agricultural productivity, and poor public health, the implementation of such projects has not been successful as intended due to slow uptake of the technology. In order to make the investment in the solar projects more effective and worth, success rates of uptake of these projects should be increased. The general objective of this study was to establish the determinants of adoption of renewable energy in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive survey and sample of 100 household heads were considered in this study. A simple random sampling technique method was used and data was collected through the questionnaires. On the other hand, secondary data was obtained from published documents. The data was analysed with help of SPSS version 22 and Excel. The study variables were regressed at 5% level of significance to establish the strength and direction of their relationship. The study established that all the four independent variables significantly and positively influenced the dependent variable. It is notable that there exists a strong positive relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable as shown by R value (0.708). The study recommends for a simple technology for the users which can be easily adopted in the study area which can consider for use per installation and households acquiring a solar household system if other forms of energy for lighting are not available or accessible. The investment cost affects adoption of renewable energy as there was a high level of investment in solar system; the installation cost of the technology is high and accessibility of solar technology providers in the area and the transportation cost of the solar appliances for installation should be considered. Finally, the renewable energy policy should be clear on the legislation of domestic solar technology and registration of solar service providers as high taxes levied on the solar appliances discourage the adopters in the study area. An exploratory study would enrich findings. A comparative study should be carried out to compare whether the findings and other factors which could be affecting adoption of renewable energy and also identify whether they apply to other areas in Kenya in order to validate the findings of this study.
Key Words: Investment Cost, Government Policy, Technology, Alternative Sources of Power, Domestic Renewable Energy.
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Acker, R., and D. Kammen (1996), The Quiet (Energy) Revolution: Analyzing the Dissemination of Photovoltaic Power Systems in Kenya, in: Energy Policy, 24, 81–111.
AFREPREN (2001) African Energy Data Reference Handbook: AFREPREN Trimestrial Report,Volume IV, Nairobi: AFREPREN.
Aggarwal P., Cha T., Wilemon D. (1998) Barriers to the adoption of really-new products and the role of surrogate buyers. Journal of Consumer Marketing. Vol 15 (4).pp 358-371
Arora, D. S., Busche, S., Cowlin, S., Engelmeier, T., Jaritz, H., Milbrandt, A. and Wang, S. (2010) ‘Indian Renewable Energy Status Report’, Background Report for DIREC 2010. Washington, DC: US Department of Energy.
Babiker, H.M., J. M. Reilly, M.Mayer, S.E. Richard,I. Sue Wing, and R.C.Hyman,2001: The MIT Emissions Prediction and Policy Analysis (EPPA) Model: Revisions,
Sensitivities, and Comparisons of Results. MIT JPRSPGC Report 71, February, 90 p Bachou, S. and Otiti, T. (1994) Dissemination of Photovoltaic Technology in Uganda. Nairobi: AFREPREN.
Barney, J.B.; Wright, M.; Ketchen Jr., D.J. (2001), The resource-based view of the firm: Ten years after 1991. Journal of Management; 27 (6), pp. 625–641.
Berger W. (2001) Catalysts for the Diffusion of Photovoltaics – a review of selected programmes. Progress in Photovoltaic: research and applications 9 pp145-160 BERR (2008a) UK Renewable Energy Strategy. Available at
Bolinger M., Wiser R., Milford L., Stoddard M., Porter K. (2001) States emerge as Clean Energy
investors: A review of state support for renewable energy. The Electricity Journal. November pp82-95
BRECSU (2001). Solar hot water systems in new housing – a monitoring report. Energy Efficiency Best Practice Programme General Information Report 88. BRECSU Watford UK.
Brown SA., Massey AP, Weiss Montoya and Burkman JR, (2002)Do I really Have to? User Acceptance of mandated technology: European Journal of information systems 11(4), 283-295.51
Caird S., Roy R., Herring H. (2008) Improving the energy performance of UK households: Results from surveys of consumer adoption and use of low- and zero carbon technologies Energy Efficiency vol 1 (2) pp149-166
Caird, S. and Roy, R. with Potter, S. and Herring, H. (2007) Consumer adoption of householdenergy efficiency measures, Report DIG09, Design Innovation Group, The Open University, Milton Keynes, UK, November.
Chi, M & Roscoe, R (2002) The Processes and Challenges of Conceptual Change. Kluwer: Netherlands
Donald R. Cooper, Pamela S. Schindler (2003) Business Research Methods, McGraw Hill School Education Group.
Farsi, M., M. Filippini, and S. Pachauri (2007), Fuel Choices in Urban Indian households, in:Environment and Development Economics, 12, 757–774.
Fishbein, M. & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction totheory and research. Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley
Flaherty F., Pinder J. and Jackson C., Evaluating performance of Domestic Solar ThermalSystems, ETSU Report.
Gebreegziabher, Z., A. Mekonnen, M. Kassie, and G. Köhlin (2011), Urban Energy Transition and Technology Ad option: The Case of Tigrai, Northern Ethiopia, in: Energy Economics,34, 410–418.
Heltberg, R. (2004), Fuel Switching: Evidence from Eight Developing Countries, in: Energy Economics, 26, 869–887.
Herring H. (2006) Energy efficiency – a critical view. Energy 31 pp10-20
Herring, H., Caird, S. and Roy, R. (2006) Can consumers save energy? Results from surveys of consumer adoption and use of low and zero carbon technologies, In Proceedings European
Council for an Energy Efficient Economy Summer Study 2007, Volume 4, Stockholm,Sweden, pp. 188595)
Hosier, R., and J. Dowd (1987), Household Fuel Choice in Zimbabwe – An Empirical Test of the Energy Ladder Hypothesis, in: Resource s and Energy, 9, 347ı361.
IEA (2006), World Energy Outlook 2006, Paris: International Energy Agency.
Jacobs, A. (2006), Connective Power: Solar Electrification and Social Change in Kenya, in:World Development, 35, 14 4–162.52
Jennings, P., , 2007, Solar energy in Australia, Radio National
Kaplan A.W. (1999) Generating interest, generating power: commercializing photovoltaics in the utility sector. Energy Policy 27 pp317-329
Kapur D., Lewis J. Webb R. (2007) The World Bank: History, Brookings Instituion Press
Karekezi, Kimani, Mutiga, & Amenya, 2004, Energy Services for the Poor in Eastern African Subregional ‘Energy Access Study’, UNEP
Karekezi, S. and Ranja, T. (1997) Renewable Energy Technologies in Africa, London & Oxford: Zed Books & AFREPREN.
Karplus, V.J., S. Paltsev, and J.M. Reilly, 2010: Prospects for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the United States and Japan: A general equilibrium analysis.Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 44(8): 620-641.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2011) Economic Survey 2011, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Kenya Renewable Energy Association (KEREA) (2009) Photovoltaic systems Field Inspection and Testing Report, Nairobi: KEREA.
Komatsu, S., S. Kaneko, R. Shrestha, and P. Ghosh (2011), Nonincome Factors behind the Purchase Decisions of Solar Home Systems in Rural Bangladesh, in: Energy forSustainable Develop m e n t , 15, 284–292.
Kothari C.R, 1985, Research Methodology-Methods and Techniques, New Delhi, Wiley Eastern Limited.
Krejcie, Robert V., Morgan, Daryle W (1970),”Determining Sample Size for Research Activities” Educational & Psychological Measurement.
Lai A.W. (1991) Consumption Situation and the Product Knowledge in the Adoption of a New Product. European Journal of Marketing 25 (10) pp55-67
Leach, G. (1992), The Energy Transition, in: Energy Policy, 20, 2, 116–123.
LEE, E.-J., LEE, J. and EASTWOOD, D. (2003) A Two-Step Estimation of Consumer Adoption of Technology-Based Service Innovations
Mahoney, J.T.; Pandian, J.R. (1992), The Resource-Based View Within the Conversation of Strategic Management. Strategic Management Journal; 15, (5), pp. 363–380.53
Makadok, R. (2001), Toward a Synthesis of the Resource-Based View and Dynamic-Capability Views of Rent Creation. Strategic Management Journal; 22, (5), pp. 387–401
Martinot E., Chaurey A., Lew D., Moreira J., Wamukonya N. (2002), Renewable Energy Markets in Developing Countries, Annual Report vol 27 pp 309-348
Mason Jennifer (2002) Qualitative Researching, SAGE Publications Ltd.
Miller, K. (2005). Communications theories: perspectives, processes, and contexts. New York:McGraw-Hill.
Ministry of Energy (2008) Strategy for the Development of the Biodiesel Industry in Kenya 2008-2012, Final Draft, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Ministry of Energy (2011) Strategy for the Updated Least Cost Power developemetn PLan 2011-2031, Final Draft, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Ministry of Finance (2011a) Budget Strategy Paper, 2011, Nairobi: Government Printer.
Ministry of Finance (2011b) Physical Infrastructure Sector Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) Report, 2011/12 – 2013/14 Nairobi: Government Printer.
Mwakubo, S., Mutua, J. Ikiara, M. and Aligula, E. (2007) Strategies for Securing Energy Supply in Kenya, DP/74/200, Nairobi: Kenya Institute for Public Research and Analysis KIPPRA).
Ngigi, A. (2006) PVMTI News-Kenya.
Njong, A., and T. Johannes (2011) An Analysis of Domestic Cooking Energy Choice s in Cameroon, in: European Journal of Social Sciences, 20, 336–348.
Peet R. nd Watts, M. (1993) Liberation ecologies: Environment, development and Social Movements: Routledge.
Rebane, K., and B. Barham (2011), Knowledge and Adoption of Solar Home Systems in Rural Nicaragua, in: Energy Policy, 39, 3064–3075.
Republic of Kenya (2006a) Energy Act, Nairobi: Government Printer
Rogers Everett (2003), Diffusion of Innovations, 5th Edition, Free Press.
Susannah C., 2010, “Guest Post: Why Is Net Metering Under Attack?” Greentech Solar,available at http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/why-is-net-meteringunder-attack
Timilsina .R., Lefevre T., Shrestha S. (2000) Financing solar thermal technologies under DSMprograms; an innovative approach to promote renewable energy. International Journal of Energy Research 24 pp 503-510 54
UNEP (2011) Global Trends in Renewable Energy’ Analysis of Trends and Issues in the Financing Renewable Energy, Investment Report 2011, Nairobi: UNEP. 66
UNEP (2008) Kenya Solar and Wind Assessment Report (SWERA) , Kenya Country Report,Nairobi: UNEP
Wernerfelt, B. (1995), The Resource-Based View of the Firm: Ten Years After. Strategic Management Journal; 16, (3), pp. 171–174.
World Bank (2010), World Development Report – Development and Climate Change, Washington D.C.: World Bank.
Venkatesh V. and Davis FD, A theoretical extension of the technology acceptance model: Four Longitudinal Field Studies: Management Science 186-204
Vosnidiadou S. (1998) From Conceptual development to Science education: A psychological point of View. International Journal of Science Education, 20, 1213-1230.
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.61426/sjbcm.v3i2.279
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.
PAST ISSUES:
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.