Factors influencing household solar photovoltaic energy use: the case of 9th district municipality Cotonou

In Benin, renewable energy receives little attention from households, which prefer to rely on generators, thereby releasing various pollutants and greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. It is against this backdrop that this study seeks to identify the various factors influencing the adoption of solar energy by households. A questionnaire sent to households was used to collect information on the various factors identified, and a statistical analysis was carried out to validate the hypotheses. The chi-square test and the logit model were used to examine the relationship between the different variables. These analyses led to the conclusion that the adoption of solar energy by households in the 9th arrondissement of Cotonou depends on the average monthly household income, the level of general knowledge about solar energy, and the level of awareness among households regarding the environmental risks associated with the use of non-renewable energy sources. It is therefore urgent to find solutions by addressing these explanatory factors in order to increase the uptake of solar energy for sustainable development.