Author Identifier
Date of Award
2026
Keywords
solar energy, policy, transitions, renewable energy, social acceptance
Document Type
Thesis
Publisher
Edith Cowan University
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy
School
School of Business and Law
First Supervisor
Kerry Brown 
0000-0002-9209-8046
Second Supervisor
Mehran Nejati 0000-0002-1199-8617
Abstract
Globally, growing concerns about the environmental and socio-economic consequences of fossil fuel dependence have intensified the need for a transition to renewable energy. Among renewable energy technologies, solar offer viable solutions to mitigate these challenges. While several renewable options are available, this thesis focuses on solar energy technologies (SETs) because solar represents the most viable, mature, and scalable alternative to hydropower in Ghana. Many countries in Africa have attempted to transition to renewable energy including Ghana. However, Ghana’s renewable energy transition has been notably slow, with solar energy remaining secondary to hydropower. Existing literature suggests that understanding social acceptance requires attention to the diverse roles, motivations, and aspirations of actors, as well as the evolving nature of technologies across implementation stages. Yet, much of the literature remains dominated by resistance-focused narratives, particularly those framed by “Not In My Backyard” perspectives, with limited attention to policy frameworks, institutional contexts, and stakeholder dynamics. This gap reflects a broader limitation of the Diffusion of Innovation (DoI) theory, which often attributes adoption outcomes to individual characteristics while underestimating systemic influences such as policy environments. Addressing this limitation, this doctoral thesis builds on the early recommendations of the DoI theory to examine systemic enablers rather than individual-level adoption behaviour by exploring the socio-political acceptance of solar energy technology in Ghana. The thesis comprises a systematic review of solar and more broadly, renewable energy acceptance studies, a conceptual analysis of successful net metering policy implementation in selected countries, and an empirical investigation of policy incentive implementation challenges in Ghana. Drawing on multiple theoretical perspectives and a qualitative approach comprising 17 interviews, the thesis concludes that Ghana’s energy transition hinges not merely on the availability of incentives but on their equitable, consistent, and transparent implementation.
Access Note
Access to this thesis is embargoed until 9th October 2029
Recommended Citation
Osei, J. (2026). The potential of solar energy technology in expediting renewable energy transitions in Ghana: A social acceptance perspective. Edith Cowan University. https://doi.org/10.25958/w1tj-8v21