Abstract
Energy consumption, and its impact on the environment, has become an increased focal point in Ghana, a sub-Saharan African country, following population growth and rapid urbanization. Ghana has high potential for renewable energy generation; nevertheless, low acceptance and usage have been found. An extensive study is required to understand the causes driving poor acceptability and the intentions to use renewable energy. This study aims to empirically investigate the acceptance of renewable energy using an extended technology acceptance model (TAM). A cross-sectional survey was conducted, from 1 February 2021 to 30 June 2021, using a self-administered questionnaire. The survey was carried out on Ghanaian adults of the age 18 years and above. Data was collected from 1068 respondents from Ghana’s northern and southern parts and analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS software. The results of the data analysis reveal that environmental awareness is the biggest predictor of the intention to use renewable energy in Ghana. Perceived affordability was also found to be the most significant predictor of attitudes towards the use of renewable energy in Ghana. The findings of this research will give policymakers, manufacturers, and the providers of renewable energy appliances a better understanding of the factors that determine the intention to use renewable energy.
Highlights
Energy is a critical topic that has been discussed extensively throughout human existence
The results reveal that attitude towards the use of renewable energy, environmental awareness, and perceived affordability accounted for 68% of the variance in the intention to use renewable energy
This study developed an extended technology acceptance model (TAM) model to investigate users’ intentions to use renewable energy among Ghanaians
Summary
Energy is a critical topic that has been discussed extensively throughout human existence. A greater percentage of the energy consumed worldwide is derived from conventional nonrenewable energy resources, such as oil, gas, and coal These sources of energy are known to contribute to climate and environmental issues due to increased greenhouse gas emissions [3]. A simple estimate shows that if proven reserves do not rise, and demand remains stable at 2019 levels, it will take about 48 years, or sometime in 2067, to deplete those reserves [7]. This information makes it crucial to use clean energy sources and identify strategies to lower
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