Analysis of Barriers to Solar Energy Adoption in Small and Medium Enterprises in Kano State, North West Nigeria

Small and medium enterprises in Kano State, North West Nigeria, could substantially reduce energy costs and improve operational continuity through solar photovoltaic adoption, yet uptake remains limited despite the state's exceptional solar resource endowment and the demonstrated economic viability of solar systems at relevant scales. This study empirically analyses the barriers to solar energy adoption among small and medium enterprises in Kano State, applying a mixed methods design to identify, quantify, and rank adoption barriers across enterprise size categories and sub-sectors. A structured survey was administered to 280 enterprise owners and managers in textiles, leather goods, food processing, and trading, covering awareness, financial constraints, technical knowledge, risk perceptions, and institutional trust. Logistic regression analysis identifies enterprise characteristics and barrier types that most strongly predict non-adoption. In-depth interviews with 20 non-adopting enterprises and 10 early adopters provide explanatory depth. Results confirm that financial barriers, specifically high capital cost and limited access to credit, are the primary adoption barrier, cited by 76 percent of non-adopters, followed by lack of trustworthy local installation services and perceived technology risk. Early adopters demonstrate significantly higher financial literacy scores and existing banking relationships. The study contributes empirical evidence to support the design of targeted solar adoption incentive programmes and recommends a Kano State Solar Enterprise Development Fund with concessional credit facilities and quality assurance certification for installers. Keywords: solar adoption barriers, small enterprises, Kano State, financial constraints, renewable energy uptake.