Factors Affecting the Willingness to Adopt Residential Rooftop Solar Panels: Evidence from Saudi Arabia

This study investigates the willingness to adopt rooftop solar panels across diverse geographic scales in Saudi Arabia—specifically, Riyadh City, Buraydah City, and the rural area of Al-Qassim Province. Drawing upon an online survey of 1 647 respondents, we employ the chi-square test of association to analyze the relationships between willingness to adopt and several related determinants from the literature, including various socio-economic factors, variations in the built environment, social information networks, and the institutional and pricing context. The survey data reveal a strong willingness to adopt rooftop solar panels across all three study areas, with distinct geographical variations in the associated variables. The chi-square results show statistically significant associations between willingness to adopt and various environmental beliefs, financial incentives, and prior expectations and perceptions, especially concerning solar panel costs and benefits. The findings underscore the importance of tailoring solar renewable energy policies to local contexts in Saudi Arabia.