Drivers and inhibitors adopting renewable energy: an empirical study in Malaysia

This paper aims to investigate the drivers and inhibitors of the adoption of renewable energy by residential users. Based on the theoretical framework of consumer decision-making behaviour, an empirical study of the adoption of renewable energy in Malaysia was conducted.

A total of 501 residential users from the Klang Valley participated in this study. The data were analysed using partial least square (PLS) with Smart PLS 3.0 software.

The results indicated that the perceived utility of new technology, perceived utility of renewable energy and the perceived benefit of new technology were seen as the drivers of the adoption of renewable energy. At the same time, two inhibitor constructs, namely, perceived risk and perceived no need, were not seen to create a negative connection relating to the adoption of renewable energy. By contrast, as hypothesized, the perceived expense was the only factor that negatively correlated with the intentions to adopt renewable energy. To foster the intention to adopt renewable energy by residential users, more effort should be expended on capitalizing on the constructs of perceived benefits of new technology and the perceived utility of this new technology.

The current study contributes to the use of renewable energy in the country and indirectly to global renewable energy strategies.