Assessing The Prospects Of Green Energy Technologies (Photovoltaic System) As An Alternative Source Of Energy: The Case Of Micro And Small Businesses In The La-Nkwantanangmadina Municipality

ABSTRACT This study assesses the prospects of green energy technologies (photovoltaic system) as an alternative source of energy in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality. The assessment revolves around analyzing the influence of socioeconomic, institutional and technical factors on the adoption of green energy technologies (photovoltaic system) as an alternative source of energy by micro and small businesses. The data are drawn from the administration of questionnaires and in-depth interviews with the aid of an interview guide in La NkwantanangMadina. Data consist of a survey of 197 micro and small businesses and five (5) in-depth interviews. The survey was conducted to ascertain the level of education of respondents, business background of respondents, knowledge of green energy technologies, willingness to pay for solar energy technologies and their adoption decision of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy. The in-depth interviews were done to assess the existence and nature of policies and/or regulations on solar energy technologies and their influence on adoption in La Nkwantanang-Madina, the cost of solar energy technologies, the rate of demand, payment plans for consumers, and the efficiency of solar energy technologies and so on. The data were analyzed in terms of the relationship between social, economic, institutional and technical factors and the adoption of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy by micro and small businesses. The findings show that the adoption of solar energy technologies is influenced by factors such as the level of education of respondents, business type of respondents, respondents’ perception about the efficiency of solar energy technologies and the cost of these technologies. The further assessment indicated that businesses are willing to incur some level of cost in the adoption of solar energy technologies. Taking advantage of the willingness of businesses to pay for solar energy technologies will require the government xi and other stakeholders to initiate policies (e.g. subsidies) that will facilitate the adoption of these technologies. It was however found that people’s knowledge of these technologies, business value, monthly electricity expenditure of businesses the rate (cost) of electricity from the grid, institutional setup the existence of by-laws and gender of respondents are less likely to exert significant influence on the adoption decision of micro and small businesses in La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality. Based on the findings, the study therefore concludes that the prospects of solar energy technologies as an alternative source of energy is appreciable but for the adoption of these technologies to be significant there is the need for institutions and measures to address the factors that have significant influence on the adoption decisions of respondents in the La Nkwantanang-Madina Municipality.