A Proposed Theoretical Model to Improve Public Participation Towards Renewable Energy (RE) Development in Malaysia

RE as an alternative source of energy in Malaysia is still at premature stage of its development and adoption. This is mainly due to lack of public awareness and participation toward new technology advancement. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to determine and present a proposed theoretical model on the relationship between public participation by measuring their willingness to pay for energy generated from RE resources and its determinants that influenced the willingness to pay level. Awareness on RE, degree of knowledge on RE, willingness to adopt RE technology, environmental concern and attitude toward RE usage are constructed as the five selected determinants. The relationship between the determinants and public participation is illustrated using theoretical framework because it allows the reader to understand how public participation that measured by willingness to pay level are being influenced. Thus, ten hypotheses on the correlation and causal effect between the dependent and independent variables are developed. Quantitative research methods will be used to achieve the research objectives. A questionnaire on 5-point likert scale will be developed and collected from 500 respondents through systematic sampling method at Kiang Valley, Malaysia. Correlation of the variables will be analyzed using SPSS version 20.0 and ordered probit model will be used to measure the causal effect between the variables. These efforts are useful to ensure future success of RE development in Malaysia.