Influence of the Characteristics of Malaysia's Small and Medium Enterprises on the "Perceived Ease of Use" of solar Energy Technology

Abstract

This study presents the relationship between SMEs characteristic and “Perceived Ease of Use” that able to predict Malaysians Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) intention on using green energy application which focusing on solar photovoltaic or also known as solar panel for private energy source to support energy bought from Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) for certain electricity tariffs. Urges to implement green energy in Malaysia are due to the environmental concern, reducing government burden on subsidies, enhance technologies, reducing operating cost in a long term and enhance public involvement. Perlis state region had been used for sampling purpose due to the highest daily received volume of sunray and heat compare to other region in Malaysia. A questionnaire created based on modified Technology Acceptance Model tool. A sample of 136 respondents among SMEs in Perlis was systematically selected from a population of 214. A number of 48 useful survey set is collected which make the successful percentage is 35.294%. Data had been analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The result show several profiles that influence “Perceived Ease of Use” behaviour that can be applied by marketing firm and policy makers to add additional dimensions in green product’s marketing strategies.