6. Determinants of Technology Adoption for Renewable Energy in Southeast Asia. The Case of Solar Power in Australia and Japan

Renewable energy is at the center of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable production system. Eco-friendly energies, such as solar, wind, and hydropower have increased in recent years, driven by policy support and sharp cost reductions. However, the widespread adoption of solar photovoltaic technology is restricted by the relatively low efficiency in converting sunlight into usable energy forms. In this chapter, we examine the adoption rate of solar technology in Japan and Australia. We aim to evaluate the potential for solar photovoltaics (PV) in these Southeast Asian nations, given that solar PV combines two advantages: module manufacturing can be done in large plants, which allows for economies of scale, and it is also a very modular technology. It can be deployed in minimal quantities at a time. Advanced solar power would allow Southeast Asia to meet the Sustainable Development Goal no. 7, “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all, by substantially increasing the share of renewable energy in their energy mix”.