What Stops to Switch on to Solar Energy? An Empirical Evidence from Pakistan

Abstract

This is an exploratory and qualitative study based on a survey. The study aims to generate a list of factors hindering switching to solar energy systems. The study design comprises the literature review, data analysis and discussion. The population under study includes stakeholders of solar energy systems, e.g., solar penal producers, importers, sellers, marketers, buyers/consumers, regulators, etc. Twenty-one samples are drawn from within the stakeholders, constituting a non-probability purposive sample of experts. The data are collected using a matrix-type questionnaire from experts. To perform analysis on data, the classical technique of Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) combined with Matriced' Impacts Cruise's Multiplication Appliquee a U.N. Classement (MICMAC) is used. Findings of ISM modeling show that limited production and uncertainty about after sale service fall at Level I, in contrast, lack of expertise and lack of social awareness fall at Level V & VI (respectively) of the model. All other barriers lye in middle on the continuum of bottom-to-top. It is worth mentioning that the barriers contained at Level I are the least important and those held at Level V & VI are the most important ones. Findings of MICMAC show that barriers, namely limited production and uncertainty about after sale service, fall in the independent cluster. In contrast, barriers, namely weak infrastructure structure, non-availability of feed-in tariff (fit) system, limited production and uncertainty about after sale service, fall in the dependent cluster. All the other barriers fall in the linkage cluster. This is an original valuable study based on real-time data collected from stakeholders that contributes new information about inter-relationships of barriers about the phenomenon under study. The study has various implications for the stakeholders, i.e. solar penal producers, wholesalers, retailers, importers, marketers, regulators, buyers, society and economy, etc.