Bridging Behavior and Policy: Determinants of Household Biogas Adoption in West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Biogas is increasingly recognized as a strategic component of Indonesia’s clean energy transition; however, household-level adoption remains limited, even in livestock-dense regions. This study provides one of the first empirical assessments in Indonesia that integrates socioeconomic, behavioral, and institutional determinants of household biogas adoption within a unified analytical framework. Focusing on dairy-farming households in West Java Province, we examine why adoption remains low despite significant manure-based energy potential. Guided by the hypothesis that institutional support and household perceptions exert stronger influence on adoption than resource availability alone, we apply a binary logistic regression model to data from 201 households (101 adopters and 100 non-adopters). The analysis incorporates structural variables (income, livestock ownership, and electricity access) together with perceptual and experiential factors (fuel-cost pressure, perceived time savings, and participation in training). Contrary to conventional expectations, higher education is negatively associated with adoption, reflecting Indonesia’s LPG price distortions and aspirational energy preferences. In contrast, fuel-cost pressure, livestock ownership, perceived time savings, and training participation significantly increase adoption likelihood. These findings underscore that effective biogas dissemination requires not only physical resources but also strengthened institutional support, improved technical capacity, and targeted awareness-building interventions.