Assessing the influence of foreign direct investment on renewable energy consumption in Somalia: an ARDL model analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT This study examines the impact of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) on renewable energy consumption in Somalia from 1990 to 2019 using the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model. The findings reveal a positive, statistically significant relationship between FDI, Gross Domestic Product (GDP), trade openness, and renewable energy consumption in the long run. Specifically, a 1% increase in FDI leads to a 0.0000115% increase in renewable energy consumption. Similarly, a 1% increase in GDP leads to a 0.026041% increase in renewable energy consumption. Meanwhile, a 1% rise in trade openness enhances renewable energy consumption by 0.0000280%. Increased foreign investments and economic growth promote the adoption of renewable energy, aligning with sustainable development principles. Conversely, environmental degradation negatively impacts renewable energy consumption. Specifically, a 1% increase in environmental degradation leads to a 0.570376% decrease in renewable energy consumption. Policymakers should incentivize FDI in the renewable energy industry through tax incentives, streamlined regulations, and public-private partnerships. Strategies promoting economic growth and integrating renewable energy objectives are essential, with trade openness facilitating the importation of renewable energy technologies. A limitation of this study is the reliance on yearly data, which may not capture recent developments or short-term fluctuations. Future research should use more granular, up-to-date data to understand the dynamics in Somalia better.