Rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Adoption for Malaysian Residential Housing: A Critical Evaluation of the Feasibility of Achieving Zero Carbon Emissions by 2028

Abstract

Malaysia has committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) setting an ambitious interim target of net-zero emissions for the residential sector. A cornerstone of this strategy is the widespread adoption of rooftop Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems among Malaysian households, with some policy narratives suggesting a trajectory towards full residential decarbonization as early as 2028. However, the feasibility of this target remains critically unexamined against the backdrop of real-world economic, technical, and behavioral constraints. This quantitative research proposal aims to critically evaluate the factors influencing household adoption of rooftop solar PV in Malaysia and assess the viability of achieving zero carbon emissions from the residential sector by 2028. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) Theory, and Institutional Theory, the study investigates the influence of Government Policy Incentives, Economic Viability (Cost-Benefit), Technical Infrastructure Readiness, and Household Environmental Awareness on Adoption Intention, with Adoption Behavior as the ultimate dependent variable representing progress towards the 2028 carbon目标. A cross-sectional survey design will target homeowners across major urban and suburban regions in Peninsular Malaysia (Klang Valley, Penang, Johor Bahru), with a target sample of 400 respondents using stratified random sampling. Data will be analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). The expected findings aim to provide a realistic, data-driven assessment of the 2028 target, offering policymakers evidence-based recommendations for accelerating genuine, mass-market adoption, or recalibrating targets to align with on-the-ground realities.