Diffusion and Adoption of RMV Microturbine System- Energy Production in Ghana

Abstract

Background: Securing adequate energy resources that fulfils the rising demand, providing everyone access to energy facilities and reducing the input of that same energy’s benefits to climate change is a major global challenge. For instance, in the developing countries, inexpensive and consistent energy amenities are necessary to reduce poverty, for better health, rise in productivity and to augment competitiveness that support economic growth. Electricity demand in Ghana in the past has relatively been low. However, the demand has been on the rise in recent time because of increasing economic growth, industrialization and urbanization and due to this situation, the current power plants are not able to generate up to the required capacities. This is attributed to fuel supply shortages and unreliability of rainfall patterns and subsequent water inflow into hydroelectricity generation facilities during the dry seasons.

Research objective: The main objective of this study was to find evidence, if associations exist between four selected diffusion of innovation (DOI) attributes; Relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and trial-ability and three additional research variables; current energy situation in Ghana, availability of fuel types and experience on the use of a micro-turbine with an intention to adopt RMV micro-turbine system.

Methodology: An existing survey instrument was modified to measure relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and trial-ability attributes of RMV micro-turbine system and three research questions. A total of (N=80) observations from three major departments in Volta River Authority were used for the data analysis. Statistical data analysis was performed by simple and multiple linear regressions and Pearson’s correlations using real statistics Analysis ToolPak and XLSTAT2018 in Excel.

Key findings: Results from the research hypothesis revealed that, linear regression and Pearson’s correlations of the four selected DOI attributes were statistically significant (p<0.05) at a significance level of 0.05 with intent to adopt RMV micro-turbine; relative advantage (0.66), compatibility (0.82) complexity (0.82) and trial-ability (-0.58). Multiple regression analysis of the three additional research independent variables with intent to adopt RMV micro-turbine failed to show evidence to support the adoption of the system and were statistically insignificant, (p>0.05), at a significance level of 0.05.