Application of agglomerative hierarchical clustering and logistic model development for assessing solar energy acceptability as an alternate energy option

Koyejo Oduola Koyejo Oduola,Zorbarile Atukomi Zorbarile Atukomi

doi:10.30574/gjeta.2021.7.1.0055

Koyejo Oduola Koyejo Oduola, Zorbarile Atukomi Zorbarile Atukomi

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.30574/gjeta.2021.7.1.0055

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Abstract

This paper is focused on the assessment of acceptability of solar energy as an alternate efficient energy management option using Agglomerative Hierarchy Cluster (AHC) and logistic regression modelling approach. The study population includes randomly selected shop-owners and residential occupants within the Port Harcourt city in Rivers State, Nigeria. The collected data sets were subjected to AHC analysis using a statistical package XLSTAT 2016 version 4.6. The central object identified from the application of AHC with respect to the sampled shop-owners and residential occupants as pertaining to the acceptability of solar energy as an alternate efficient energy management option was centered around the financial implication of energy generation and the political influence of the government solar energy policies for energy generation. Finally, logistic regression modelling approach was applied into developing a predictive model for the probability of general acceptance (variable ‘yes’) of solar energy as an effective energy management system. From the developed model the chance of acceptance of a solar energy management system is 1% with 59.5% rejection from the study population while it is 99% with an unawareness level of 40.51% from the study population.

Highlights

Given the huge potential for solar power generation, the whole world including Nigeria has been making considerable efforts to diversify its energy mix and invest heavily on research and development on the exploitation of solar and other renewable energy technologies
An attempt has been made to develop a model for predicting the probability of acceptance of solar energy as an alternate source within Port Harcourt city applying the principle of logistic regression analysis
The questionnaire parameters in class 2 which happens to be the major class with 5 questionnaire parameters are centered around the political influence of the government solar energy for energy generation as an effective energy management system

Summary

Introduction

Given the huge potential for solar power generation (and other forms of renewables), the whole world including Nigeria has been making considerable efforts to diversify its energy mix (with less emphasis on thermal generation) and invest heavily on research and development on the exploitation of solar and other renewable energy technologies. Procurement, establishment/ installation as well as advancement of a solar system in a megacity could be hindered with issues such as economic viability, inadequate research and innovation into solar energy development, noncompliance to existing buildings and other power distribution challenges and the unawareness/unacceptability of the general public who are not familiar with the increasing contribution of solar based energy to the total electricity source.

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