Keywords
Household
Adoption
Diffusion
Assam
Case study
How to Cite
Abstract
Rooftop solar is a key component of India’s renewable energy transition and its broader commitments to mitigate climate change. To accelerate its adoption, the government of India has launched PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana (PMSGY), which provides subsidised rooftop solar PV installations. However, the uneven uptake of rooftop solar across regions highlights the need for a deeper understanding of household adoption patterns, supporting factors, and barriers, particularly in states lagging behind in adoption. In this context, Assam presents an important case for analysing adoption dynamics, as despite having the highest installed solar capacity in northeastern India, rooftop solar adoption at the household level remains relatively low. Drawing on the framework of Rogers’s Diffusion of Innovations, this study examines households’ rooftop solar adoption patterns using a qualitative case study. The findings indicate that adoption of rooftop solar under PMSGY in Guwahati, Assam, is limited and at an early stage, with adoption predominantly concentrated among late adopters. This can be attributed to the small size of the early adopter and the prolonged innovation–decision phase among late adopters. Theoretically, laggards delay adoption due to their traditional and risk-averse tendencies, but this study indicates that their adoption decision is constrained by awareness, structural, financial, utility, and environmental barriers. Therefore, targeted policy interventions to address these barriers are needed. Furthermore, financial incentives such as subsidised installation can facilitate adoption, raising awareness, and communicating adopters' experiences are essential for accelerating rooftop solar diffusion.
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