Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference

The increased use of renewable energy is imperative as a countermeasure to climate change. As with conventional electricity generation technologies, public acceptance of renewables is an important issue, and willingness to pay (WTP) is a widely used indicator to assess such public attitudes. Unfortu...

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Main Authors: Masako Numata, Masahiro Sugiyama, Wunna Swe, Daniel del Barrio Alvarez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1505
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author Masako Numata
Masahiro Sugiyama
Wunna Swe
Daniel del Barrio Alvarez
author_facet Masako Numata
Masahiro Sugiyama
Wunna Swe
Daniel del Barrio Alvarez
author_sort Masako Numata
collection DOAJ
description The increased use of renewable energy is imperative as a countermeasure to climate change. As with conventional electricity generation technologies, public acceptance of renewables is an important issue, and willingness to pay (WTP) is a widely used indicator to assess such public attitudes. Unfortunately, the literature to date mostly covers developed countries, with few WTP surveys in developing countries. Tackling climate change is an urgent issue for these developing countries; therefore, understanding of public attitudes toward renewables in developing countries is crucial. This study conducted the first survey on WTP for introducing renewable energy in Myanmar. Although Myanmar boasts abundant renewable energy resources, including solar power and biomass in addition to large-scale hydro plants, its resources are not being properly utilized to generate electricity. This study surveyed WTP for power generation by solar photovoltaics, small hydropower, and biomass facilities. The results showed the highest WTP for solar power (USD 1.92) with 10% share in the energy mix, and lower WTP for biomass and small hydropower electricity generations (USD 1.13 and USD 1.17, respectively). Careful public communication is thus crucial for expanding biomass and small-scale hydro power plants.
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spelling doaj.art-f901ebfdb6af4d569818d572efa1b8352023-11-21T09:46:46ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732021-03-01145150510.3390/en14051505Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source PreferenceMasako Numata0Masahiro Sugiyama1Wunna Swe2Daniel del Barrio Alvarez3Institute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, JapanInstitute for Future Initiatives, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, JapanDepartment of Electrical Power Engineering, Mandalay Technological University, Mandalay 05072, MyanmarDepartment of Civil Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, JapanThe increased use of renewable energy is imperative as a countermeasure to climate change. As with conventional electricity generation technologies, public acceptance of renewables is an important issue, and willingness to pay (WTP) is a widely used indicator to assess such public attitudes. Unfortunately, the literature to date mostly covers developed countries, with few WTP surveys in developing countries. Tackling climate change is an urgent issue for these developing countries; therefore, understanding of public attitudes toward renewables in developing countries is crucial. This study conducted the first survey on WTP for introducing renewable energy in Myanmar. Although Myanmar boasts abundant renewable energy resources, including solar power and biomass in addition to large-scale hydro plants, its resources are not being properly utilized to generate electricity. This study surveyed WTP for power generation by solar photovoltaics, small hydropower, and biomass facilities. The results showed the highest WTP for solar power (USD 1.92) with 10% share in the energy mix, and lower WTP for biomass and small hydropower electricity generations (USD 1.13 and USD 1.17, respectively). Careful public communication is thus crucial for expanding biomass and small-scale hydro power plants.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1505willingness to payrenewable energyMyanmarclimate changestated preferencediscrete choice experiment (DCE)
spellingShingle Masako Numata
Masahiro Sugiyama
Wunna Swe
Daniel del Barrio Alvarez
Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
Energies
willingness to pay
renewable energy
Myanmar
climate change
stated preference
discrete choice experiment (DCE)
title Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
title_full Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
title_fullStr Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
title_full_unstemmed Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
title_short Willingness to Pay for Renewable Energy in Myanmar: Energy Source Preference
title_sort willingness to pay for renewable energy in myanmar energy source preference
topic willingness to pay
renewable energy
Myanmar
climate change
stated preference
discrete choice experiment (DCE)
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/14/5/1505
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AT masahirosugiyama willingnesstopayforrenewableenergyinmyanmarenergysourcepreference
AT wunnaswe willingnesstopayforrenewableenergyinmyanmarenergysourcepreference
AT danieldelbarrioalvarez willingnesstopayforrenewableenergyinmyanmarenergysourcepreference