Renewable energy deployment in Jordan has grown rapidly in recent years, yet multiple obstacles continue to hinder its further expansion. This study examines five key hypotheses linking various barriers to the renewable energy transition in Jordan: namely, the effects of social, technical, financial, and market barriers on regulatory barriers, and in turn the effect of regulatory barriers on renewable energy deployment. A quantitative research design was employed, surveying professionals in Jordan’s solar energy sector and analyzing the data with structural equation modeling (SEM). The results confirm that all four barrier types – social, technical, financial, and market – exert a significant influence on regulatory barriers, which itself proves to be a pivotal factor directly affecting the deployment of renewable energy. Notably, technical barriers showed the strongest impact on regulatory barriers, while social, financial, and market barriers also had significant effects. Moreover, regulatory impediments were found to significantly constrain renewable energy implementation. These findings underscore the interconnected nature of barriers in the renewable energy domain. The paper discusses how shortcomings in public awareness, grid infrastructure, financing, and market structure contribute to regulatory hurdles (Joel et al., 2024; Silva, 2022; Zyoud, 2024), ultimately impeding clean energy growth. Policy implications are drawn to suggest that easing social barriers through awareness campaigns, strengthening technical infrastructure, enhancing financial support mechanisms, and liberalizing market conditions – alongside comprehensive regulatory reforms – can collectively accelerate Jordan’s renewable energy transition. The study contributes to the literature by providing up-to-date empirical evidence from Jordan and offering targeted recommendations to inform policymakers and stakeholders in overcoming barriers to sustainable energy deployment.
Abdmouleh, Z., Gastli, A., & Ben-Brahim, L. (2021). Review of renewable energy development in the MENA region: Current status and future perspectives. Energy Policy, 148, 111981.
Abu-Rumman, G. (2020). Renewable Energy in Jordan: Political and Regulatory Framework. Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development, 6(1), 23-35.
Aleksiejuk-Gawron, M., Chwaszcz, O., & Karpi?ski, M. (2020). The role of net metering in household solar photovoltaic development: A comparative analysis of European markets. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 132, 110048.
Alkhawaldeh, M. (2024). The role of financial incentives in renewable energy adoption in Jordan: A policy analysis. Energy Reports.
Belaïd, F. (2021). Challenges of energy transition in MENA: The role of financing and regulation. Energy Policy, 148, 111981.
Bell, D., Gray, T., & Haggett, C. (2020). Revisiting public acceptance of renewable energy developments: Policy and practice implications. Renewable Energy, 135, 1231-1240.
Byrne, R., Ockwell, D. (2019). Sustainable energy for whom? Governing Pro-Poor, Low Carbon Pathways to Development: Lessons from Solar PV in Kenya. World Development, 122, 192-202.
Chatham House. (2023). Scaling up sustainable energy in Jordan’s public buildings. Retrieved from https://www.chathamhouse.org
Climatescope. (2021). Jordan Country Profile. BloombergNEF.
Energy and Minerals Regulatory Commission. (2022). Annual Report. Jordan.
International Energy Agency (IEA). (2020). Renewables 2022 – Analysis and forecast to 2027. Paris: IEA. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). (2021). Renewables Readiness Assessment: The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Abu Dhabi: IRENA. Retrieved from https://www.irena.org
Miller, T., Reiss, T., & Whitford, S. (2020). Community engagement in energy policy: The role of trust and transparency. Journal of Environmental Policy & Planning, 22(4), 457-473.
Peters, K., Kim, J., & Sanchez, M. (2021). Public awareness campaigns for sustainable energy: A review of best practices. Renewable Energy Reports, 28, 1-15.
REN21. (2021). Global Status Report: Renewable Energy 2021. Paris: REN21.
Seetharaman, P. (2019). Impact of regulatory, social, technical, and economic barriers on renewable energy deployment. Energy Policy, 128, 631-646.
World Bank. (2021). Breaking Down Barriers to Clean Energy Transition. Retrieved from https://www.worldbank.org
World Economic Forum. (2022). Scaling Up Renewable Energy Investments in Emerging Markets: Policy & Financial Pathways. Retrieved from https://www.weforum.org
World Energy Investment. (2024). Global Trends in Energy Investments: Challenges and Opportunities. Retrieved from https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-investment-2024
Hussein, M. I. M. A.-H., & Awang, Z. (2025). Unraveling the Barriers to Renewable Energy Deployment in Jordan: A Quantitative Analysis of Social, Technical, Financial, Market, and Regulatory Challenges. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 15(8), 692–715.
Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s)
Published by Knowledge Words Publications (www.kwpublications.com)
This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY 4.0) license. Anyone may reproduce, distribute, translate and create derivative works of this article (for both commercial and non-commercial purposes), subject to full attribution to the original publication and authors. The full terms of this license may be seen at: http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/4.0/legalcode
