Solar photovoltaic as a means to sustainable energy consumption in Malaysia: the role of knowledge and price value

ABSTRACT

Despite various initiatives from the government, merely two per cent of Malaysia’s electricity is produced by renewable energy sources including solar panels. Currently, little is known about the predictors for households’ behavioral intention of utilizing solar photovoltaic systems in Malaysia. Thus, this study aims to investigate the role of knowledge and price value in affecting the adoption of solar system among Malaysian households, based on the Unified theory of acceptance and the use of technology. Results based on a quantitative survey indicated that knowledge affects effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions positively. Meanwhile, the price value had a direct effect on performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions. Additionally, performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, and facilitating conditions were all positively related to behavioral intention. This study provides valuable references for Malaysian government to promote the use of solar energy.

KEYWORDS:

• Households
• knowledge
• price value
• solar photovoltaic systems
• unified theory of acceptance and use of technology

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the Ministry of Education, Malaysia for providing financial support under the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) (Reference No.: FRGS/2018/SS08/UTAR/02/1).

Notes

¹ Tenaga Nasional is the largest electric utility company in Malaysia.

² One-to-one offset means every 1kWh exported to the grid will be offset against 1kWh consumed from the grid with gazetted tariff. The export charge is based on descending order in which it starts from the highest applicable rate (Sustainable Energy Development Authority 2020).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Ministry Of Higher Education Malaysia [FRGS/1/2018/SS08/UTAR/02/1].