SPATIO-TEMPORAL EXPLORATORY ANALYSIS OF THE DETERMINANTS OF CONSUMPTION LEVEL OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN THE ECOWAS STATES
Petroleum, natural gas, and coal are examples of conventional energy sources that have been identified as significant sources of greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming. The ECOWAS states have an abundance of energy resources, including solar, wind, biomass, hydro, and others, which are used to supply domestic energy needs and promote economic growth. This paper estimates the impact of determinants of renewable energy such as access to clean fuel & cooking technology, access to electricity, energy intensity level, total electricity output, and total final energy consumption on the consumption level of renewable energy using spatial panel analysis in 14 ECOWAS states covering the period of 1990 – 2018. The results indicated that access to clean fuel & cooking technology, access to electricity, total electricity output, and carbon (IV) oxide have a negative influence on renewable energy consumption, while energy intensity level and total final energy consumption have a positive effect. As such, reductions in access to clean fuel & cooking technology, access to electricity, total electricity output, and carbon (IV) oxide will increase renewable energy consumption in ECOWAS states. Due to the sustainability of renewable resources and their suitability for installation in communally owned mini-grids, renewable energy technology may offer a feasible solution to ECOWAS states long-standing energy challenges.
Spatial Panel, Lagrange Multipliers, Hausman Test, Spatial Weight