Environmental Relative Advantage and Business Image on Photovoltaic Technology Continuance Adoption Among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises

Authors

  • Habofanwe Andreas Koloba North-West University

Keywords:

business image , photovoltaic technology , MSMEs, environmental relative advantage

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effect of environmental relative advantage and business image on the continuance adoption of photovoltaic technology among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.  The adoption rate of photovoltaic technology among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises in South Africa is comparatively low even though the grid-based energy costs are high. Existing research is yet to address the role of environmental relative advantage and considerations of the business image on the continuance adoption of photovoltaic technology among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. Using a quantitative approach, this study employed the Partial-Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling to examine the effect of environmental relative advantage and business image on photovoltaic technology continuance adoption among a sample of 350 micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The results revealed that environmental relative advantage and business image had a statistically positive effect (R2 =0.454) on photovoltaic technology continuance adoption among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises. The significance of this finding is that these businesses notice environmental relative advantage of photovoltaic technology and consider their image hence they continue adopting this technology. This is significant for the entire country as this will contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions and help the country to meet its sustainability goals. The study contributes to literature on photovoltaic technology among micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.

References

Adepoju, A. O., & Akinwale, Y. O. (2019). Factors influencing willingness to adopt renewable energy technologies among micro and small enterprises in Lagos State Nigeria. International Journal of Sustainable Energy Planning and Management, 19, 69-82.

Africa Centre for policy. (2021). Renewable energy. A Simplified Guide to Investment for SMEs in Ghana. https://acep.africa/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Renewable-energy-Investment-for-SMEs-in-Ghana.pdf

Agbo, E. P., Edet, C. O., Magu, T. O., Njok, A. O., Ekpo, C. M., & Louis, H. (2021). Solar energy: A panacea for the electricity generation crisis in Nigeria. Heliyon, 7(5).

Ajah, S. N. (2023). Factors Influencing Managers-Owners of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Willingness to Adopt Solar Technology in Anambra State Nigeria. Thailand and The World Economy, 41(1), 61-86.

Akangbe, O., & Sharifi, A. (2025), Nigeria’s path to green energy transition: Insights from business preferences for solar PV adoption. Renewable Energy, 253, 123604. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2025.123604

Alshahrani, R., Rizwan, A., Alomar, M. A., & Fotis, G. (2024). IoT-based sustainable energy solutions for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Energies, 17(16), 4144.

Alsharari, A. O. B. & Ali, D. A. (2025). Renewable Energy Adoption among SMEs: System Literature Review. Journal of Reproducible Research (JRR), 1, 360-375.

Apfel, D., & Herbes, C. (2021). What drives Senegalese SMEs to adopt renewable energy technologies? Applying an extended UTAUT2 model to a developing economy. Sustainability, 13(16), 9332.

Awamleh, F. T., Shwawreh, S., Al-Kharabsheh, S. A. I., & Alzghoul, A. (2025). The integration of renewable energy adoption in sustainability practices for sustainable competitive advantage in Jordanian SMEs. Challenges in Sustainability, 13(1), 135-145.

Baah, C., Opoku-Agyeman, D., Acquah, I. S. K., Agyabeng-Mensah, Y., Afum, E., Faibil, D., & Abdoulaye, F. A. M. (2021). Examining the correlations between stakeholder pressures, green production practices, firm reputation, environmental and financial performance: Evidence from manufacturing SMEs. Sustainable production and consumption, 27, 100-114.

Botha, N., Coleman, T., Wessels, G., Kleebauer, M. & Karamanski, S., (2025). Power generation time series for solar energy generation: Modelling with atlite in South Africa. Solar, 5(1), 8. MDPI. https://doi.org/10.3390/solar5010008

Chen, Y. S. (2010). The drivers of green brand equity: Green brand image, green satisfaction, and green trust. Journal of Business ethics, 93(2), 307-319.

Ejigu, A. K., & Yeshitela, K. (2024). Envisioning sustainable sanitation planning: a unified approach of diffusion of innovation and theory of planned behavior in predicting ecosan toilet adoption in Arba Minch City, Ethiopia. Frontiers in Environmental Sciences, 12, 1371659. doi: 10.3389/fenvs.2024.1371659

Fornell, C., & Larcker, D. F. (1981). Evaluating Structural Equation Models with Unobservable Variables and Measurement Error. Journal of Marketing Research, 18(1), 39-50. https://www.jstor.org/stable/3151312

Gatawa, N., Chimwani, N., & Mbohwa, C. (2026). The Potential of Solar Energy in South Africa: opportunities and challenges. Current Sustainable/Renewable Energy Reports, 13(1), 10.

Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2017). A primer on partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) (2nd ed.). Sage. Kennesaw State University.

Hancevic, P., & Sandoval, H. (2023). Solar panel adoption in SMEs in emerging countries. SSRN.

Hussain, A., Kanwel, S., Erum, N., Pasha, U., Asad, M., Khan, S. N., ... & Sanusi, Z. M. (2025). The role of environmental awareness, renewable energy, and green innovation in shaping climate change perceptions. Scientific Reports, 15(1), 40933.

Issa, A., & Hanaysha, J. R. (2023). Powering profits: how renewable energy boosts financial performance in European non-financial companies. International Journal of Accounting & Information Management, 31(4), 600-622.

Kapoor, K. K., & Dwivedi, Y. K. (2020). Sustainable consumption from the consumer’s perspective: Antecedents of solar innovation adoption. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, 152, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2019.104501

Khalid, F., Sun, J., Guo, J., & Srivastava, M. (2024). Green corporate image: Assessing the effects of climate change management practices on corporate reputation. Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, 31(3), 1786-1801.

Kock, N. (2015). Common method bias in PLS-SEM: A full collinearity assessment approach. International Journal of e-Collaboration (IJEC), 11(4), 1-10.

Kock, N., & Lynn, G. S. (2012). Lateral collinearity and misleading results in variance-based SEM: An illustration and recommendations. Journal of the Association for information Systems, 13(7), 2.

Kumar, P., Gupta, S., & Dagar, V. (2024). Sustainable energy development through non‐residential rooftop solar photovoltaic adoption: Empirical evidence from India. Sustainable Development, 32(1), 795-814.

Kurniawan, N. I., Soeprijanto, S., & Nadlifatin, R. (2025). The mediating role of perceived environmental benefits in the relationship between perceived environmental concerns and attitudes toward behaviors: The case of solar photovoltaic adoption in Indonesia. International Journal of Energy Economics and Policy, 15(4), 248-262.

Ledger, T. (2024). Rapid Electricity Supply Diversification in Municipalities is the Key to Economic Recovery, Municipal Financial Sustainability and an Early End to Load Shedding. Policy Brief. Public Affairs Research Institute. https://pari.org.za/renewables/

Liczmańska-Kopcewicz, K., Pypłacz, P., & Wiśniewska, A. (2020). Resonance of investments in renewable energy sources in industrial enterprises in the food industry. Energies, 13(17), 4285.

Mabunda, M. V., Mukonza, R. M., & Mudzanani, L. R. (2023). The effects of loadshedding on small and medium enterprises in the Collins Chabane local municipality. Journal of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, 12(1), 57. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13731-023-00327-7

Mathibedi, G. S., Mokgohloa, K., Seadira, T., & Ramdass, K. (2026). An assessment of rooftop solar photovoltaic adoption in South Africa: a system dynamics analysis of drivers, constraints, and equity implications. Renewable Energies, 4(1), 27533735261438308.

Memtimin, M., Wang, N., & Mogi, G. (2025). Solar photovoltaics adoption and its impacts on energy consumption: Evidence from Japanese households. Renewable Energy Focus, 53, 100690.

Mkhwebane, E., & Ntuli, N. (2019). Alternatives for small, medium and micro scale enterprises participation in the renewable energy industry-small scale embedded generation review. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 30(2), 144-151.

Mohanty, P. K., Panda, D. K., Patro, A., Mohanty, J., Dubey, R. K., & Mandal, S. (2025). Measuring the determinants of technology adoption by small and medium-size organizations: a behavioural reasoning theory perspective. Energy, 326, 136222.

Moosa, B. (2025). Sustainable Energy Sources: the impact of solar PV installation in Ethekwini, Kwazulu-Natal. Journal of Inclusive Cities and Built Environment, 5, 59-85.

Mutumbi, U., Thondhlana, G., & Ruwanza, S. (2024). Adoption of residential rooftop solar PV systems in South Africa: a scoping review of barriers. Heliyon, 10(10).

Ofori, C. G., Aboagye, A. Q., Afful-Dadzie, A., & Bokpin, G. A. (2022). A real options approach to assessing the cost savings potential of renewable energy adoption among SMEs in Ghana. Climate Policy, 22(7), 851-864.

Ogedengbe, F. A., & Adelowotan, M. O. (2025). From Load shedding to opportunity: distributed solar and storage usage in South African SMEs. The Business & Management Review, 16(4), 39-51. https://cberuk.com/cdn/publications/2026-01-27-23-53-33-PM.pdf#page=47

Owusu-Sekyere, E., Cissé, F. N., & Achandi, E. L. (2024). Impact of solar energy subscription on the market performance of micro, small & medium enterprises in Nigeria. Energy Policy, 188, 114063.

Parsad, C., Mittal, S., & Krishnankutty, R. (2020). A study on the factors affecting household solar adoption in Kerala, India. International Journal of Productivity and Performance Management, 69(8), 1695-1720.

Poornima, P. U., Dhineshkumar, K., Kumar, C. K., Sumana, S., Sundari, M. R., Sivaraman, P., Qamar, S., Ahmad, M., Oryani, B., ... & Zhang, Q. (2022). Solar energy technology adoption and diffusion by micro, small, and medium enterprises: sustainable energy for climate change mitigation. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 29(32), 49385-49403.

Ramayah, T., Mohamad, O., Omar, A., Marimuthu, M., & Leen, J. Y. A. (2013). Determinants of technology adoption among Malaysian SMEs: An IDT perspective. Journal of Information and Communication Technology, 12, 103-119.

Scheller, F., Morrissey, K., Neuhoff, K., & Keles, D. (2024). Green or greedy: The relationship between perceived benefits and homeowners’ intention to adopt residential low-carbon technologies. Energy Research & Social Science, 108, 103388.

Schelly, C., & Letzelter, J. C. (2020). Examining the key drivers of residential solar adoption in upstate New York. Sustainability, 12(6), 2552.

Semelane, S., Nwulu, N., Kambule, N., & Tazvinga, H. (2021). Evaluating available solar photovoltaic business opportunities in coal phase-out regions–An energy transition case of Steve Tshwete local municipality in South Africa. Energy Policy, 155, 112333.

Shin, H., Ellinger, A. E., Nolan, H. H., DeCoster, T. D., & Lane, F. (2018). An assessment of the association between renewable energy utilization and firm financial performance. Journal of Business Ethics, 151(4), 1121-1138.

Sitompul, H., Saifi, M., Hutahayan, B., & Sunarti. (2024). Use of renewable energy to enhance firm performance: a systematic review. Sustainability, 16(21), 9157.

Smarte Anekwe, I. M., Akpasi, S. O., Mkhize, M. M., Zhou, H., Moyo, R. T., & Gaza, L. (2024). Renewable energy investments in South Africa: Potentials and challenges for a sustainable transition-a review. Science Progress, 107(2), 00368504241237347.

Tornatzky, L. G., Fleischer, M., & Chakrabarti, A. K. (1990). Processes of technological innovation. Lexington Books.

Tsikada, C., Chasaya, W., & Ayandibu, A. O. (2025). The adoption of green supply chain management in entrepreneurship and its impact on business sustainability: lessons for South African SMEs. Future Business Journal, 11(1), 198.

Walsh, K., Kiln, J., Nel, J., & Meihuizen, P. (2024). An assessment of financing models and strategic interventions to sustain rooftop solar PV adoption by households and small businesses in South Africa. https://www.novaeconomics.co.za/our-work/an-assessment-of-financing-models-and-strategic-interventions-to-sustain-rooftop-solar-pv-adoption-by-households-and-small-businesses-in-south-africa

Wong, K. K. K. (2019). Mastering Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS in 38 Hours. iUniverse. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332031150_Mastering_Partial_Least_Squares_Structural_Equation_Modeling_PLS-SEM_with_SmartPLS_in_38_Hours

Zulu, N. (2026). Tourism SMEs seek urgent relief after floods crisis. https://vutivibusiness.co.za/business/infrastructure-damage-stalls-tourism-recovery-in-flood-hit-provinces

Downloads

Published

2026-10-31

Issue

Section

Articles

How to Cite

Environmental Relative Advantage and Business Image on Photovoltaic Technology Continuance Adoption Among Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises. (2026). Acta Universitatis Danubius. Œconomica, 22(5), 92-109. https://dj.univ-danubius.ro/index.php/AUDOE/article/view/4318