Framework for evaluating the successful implementation of solar home systems in public housing projects in the United Arab Emirates

Abstract

Successful planning and implementation of solar home systems (SHS) remains a significant challenge for government agencies, particularly from economic and sustainability perspectives. This study aims to develop a stakeholder-based framework for evaluating SHS programs in the public housing sector of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). A mixed-method approach was employed, incorporating both qualitative and quantitative data collection. A comprehensive review of SHS was conducted to identify the main global success factors for implementing the system in public housing projects. Subsequently, a structured questionnaire was distributed to 56 specialized participants comprising institutional stakeholders involved in SHS implementation in the UAE, leading to the identification of the critical success factors (CSF). Furthermore, 24 domain experts validated the data through focused group interviews. The findings indicate that the success of SHS programs is significantly influenced by regional factors, with stakeholders playing a pivotal role in defining the success factors. The research identified 44 potential CSFs, categorized into six fundamental groups: political, economic, technical, social, environmental, and marketing. Among these, economic factors were the most significant in the UAE, followed by technical, political, environmental, marketing, and social aspects. Government support was identified as the most CSF, followed by annual savings, maintenance and monitoring, installation quality, and payback period. The proposed framework emphasizes the government's role as the primary stakeholder, guiding the evaluation of success based on specific goals and performance metrics. Each stakeholder's unique success factors are weighted to reflect their importance, and the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) method is employed to derive key performance indicators (KPI) for consistent success measurement. This study provides a robust tool for stakeholders to assess and compare the success of different SHS programs by considering region-specific factors. It is intended to help UAE policymakers and government authorities make decisions, ensuring more effective SHS implementation, with the potential to be applied in the other Gulf Cooperation Council Countries that share similar environmental, economic, and political conditions.