Roadmap to green future: Biodigester technology acceptance to upscale rural energy access

Shoaib Qamar, Qingyu Zhang, Munir Ahmad, Stefania Pinzón, Naseer Ahmed and Cem Işık

Energy, 2025, vol. 315, issue C

Abstract: Achieving SDG-7, which emphasizes universal access to affordable and clean energy, is critical to building a sustainable future, with biodigester technology (B-TECH) as an emerging technology capable of driving this revolutionary journey. Thus, adopting B-TECH in rural areas may help meet energy-related demands, provided that the energy policy design effectively accommodates rural residents' perceptions. This study analyzed the driving and impeding critical factors impacting B-TECH acceptance by households in the rural areas of the Southern Punjab province of Pakistan by introducing novel perceptional factors. Theoretically, a combination of the theory of consumer behavior and the technology acceptance model is employed and tested using data collected through questionnaire administration. A logit model is used to reveal that the perceived usefulness of B-TECH and the perceived acceptability of innovative products proved to be the driving factors of B-TECH acceptance. Contrarily, the perceived risk of investing in B-TECH hindered B-TECH acceptance. Besides, most demographic, socioeconomic, infrastructural, ecological, and institutional factors significantly impacted households' decisions to accept B-TECH. It is recommended that B-TECH be designed to be tailored to the local conditions and that local companies be involved in manufacturing B-TECH for improved product acceptability, guiding the country's energy structure towards a green future.

Keywords: Biodigester technology; Driving factors; Impeding factors; Rural energy access; Sustainable development; Pakistan (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:315:y:2025:i:c:s0360544225000799

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2025.134437

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