Constraints and Incentives in Using Renewable Energy Technology in MSMEs: A Mexican Case

Abstract

This paper shows the results of an investigation aimed to determine if some organizational and market variables are related to the propensity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to use renewable energy. The methodology of the study is correlational, and uses statistical techniques such as contingency tables and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to analyze the relationships between the dependent and independent variables. We included 160 micro, small and medium enterprises. The sample included 86 percent of companies with fewer than 10 workers; 11% of 10 to 50 workers; and 3% 50 to 250 workers. The method of data collection involved the application of a survey of owners and managers of companies. Significant relationships between the dependent variable intention to invest in renewable energy and geographic dispersion of market variables and level of information on renewable energy were also found. Among the main findings we conclude that the factor most related to the adoption of behaviors associated with sustainable consumption, would be the level of information they have access to MSMEs, which suggests the importance of designing programs to improve the quality and quantity of information available for the different business segments, especially for those who meet other characteristics associated with the adoption of these technologies, such as greater vertical integration, more dispersed markets and higher levels of income.