Predictors of Sustainable Energy Technology Adoption Behavior in South-Western Nigeria

Abstract

This study focuses on the predictors of sustainable energy technology (SET) adoption behavior in south-western Nigeria. Although the extant literature is gorged with plethora of studies on sustainable energy technology adoption, studies that were conducted in a typical emerging economy like Nigeria in general and south-west Nigeria in particular are grossly under-researched and under-reported. The main objective of this study is to empirically investigate the predicting factors that influence the adoption of sustainable energy technology in south-western Nigeria. Based on the foregoing, the study adopted quantitative design and quota sampling as the research design and sampling method respectively. Questionnaire was the research instrument. The validity and the reliability of the research instrument were tested using construct validity and composite validity respectively. Hypothesized relationships were tested using structural equation modeling. It was found that performance expectancy, perceived value and effort expectancy have significant effect on the intention to adopt sustainable energy technology, while social influence, facilitating condition and intrinsic motivation do not. Also, it was revealed that there is a positive and significant relationship between intention to adopt sustainable energy technology and the actual adoption of sustainable energy technology. It was concluded that the study provided empirical support that Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) provides a robust and comprehensive theoretical framework to predict, explain and describe sustainable energy technology adoption behaviour in a typical developing country context like Nigeria. The marketers of SET products should use price as their unique selling proposition to attract customers. Also, the quality of the SET products should conform with the expected performance of the product. Also, the SET marketers should endeavour that expected efforts of the prospective SET products consumers are met adequately since social influence, facilitating conditions and intrinsic motivation did not have significant effect on adoption intentions for SET.