Is there a link between cognitive abilities and renewable energy adoption: Evidence from Uzbekistan using micro data

Renewable energy is becoming a critical component of energy balance in developed countries. However, the speed of renewable energy adoption and its market penetration levels are lower in the developing countries including Uzbekistan. This provides additional information on the factors serving as incentives and disincentives for renewable energy penetration (with special emphasis on solar-PV and solar-thermal systems) based on micro-level primary data collected in three regions of Uzbekistan. Our results show that individuals who are older, own a car and live in a big family, have higher likelihood of being first adopter of RES, followed by individuals with a higher level of cognitive abilities who experience power outages in the household. Consequently, we observe a positive relationship between an individual’s level of cognitive abilities and environmentally friendly behavior using household-level data, estimated a positive association of cognitive abilities with public acceptance of RES.