Assessment of Awareness and Willingness to Adopt Solar Energy in Ghana – Perspective from End Users

Abstract

The culture of sustainable and clean energy has become a top priority in many countries globally partly due to the issue of climate change and energy paucity. Solar energy is one of the most adopted energy sources due to its clean nature and availability, especially in areas with high sunlight. Despite the apparent benefits, its adoption is relatively low, especially in developing countries such as Ghana. This study thus employs a quantitative approach to assess the awareness and adoptability of solar energy in Ghana. It reaches out to 412 respondents across all 16 regions of the country through survey questionnaires. The results indicate that the respondents' awareness of solar energy was high (97.1%) partly because most had formal education (first degree). 73.7% of the respondents indicated that they heard about it from the media (news, radio, and outdoor adverts). Also, 87% were willing to adopt solar energy for their homes should there be a flexible loan facility that could be paid for over 10 years. It was also discovered that the level of education has an impact on awareness and adoption of solar energy. This study recommends that stakeholders should prioritise mechanisms to increase solar energy awareness, and a viable financial scheme must be made available to help boost the adoption of solar energy in Ghana. Additionally, efforts must be made by stakeholders to train hands-on technicians to boost adopter confidence. This study is expected to serve as a resourceful reference for policymakers, researchers, and stakeholders.