Barrier identification and prioritisation for the deployment of solar photovoltaic systems in dairy farming in India using the ISM–MICMAC approach

Abstract

Dairy farming needs a strong foundation of energy security in rural India for its sustainability. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) systems in dairy farming act as a catalyst to ensure Green Energy Measures (GEMs) and to achieve the various missions of the Indian Government. The deployment of solar PV systems to fulfil energy needs in Indian dairy farming has several issues and barriers. In this investigation, various foremost barriers creating hindrances in deployment of PV systems in Indian dairy farms have been identified. Contextual relationships between identified barriers have been established by Interpretive Structural Modelling (ISM) and classified using Matrice d'impacts croisés multiplication appliquée á un classment (MICMAC). It is used to determine the ranks and types of hindrances and to develop a structural model. The strongest driving force barriers are high initial capital cost, storage devices barrier, policy and regulatory issues, less education and weak affordability in rural and long payback periods. The strongest dependent force barriers include societal acceptance, fewer concerns about ecological and environmental issues, and a lack of entrepreneurs and innovations in the rural sector. Finally, the future roadmap to address the obstacles in exploitation of PV systems in context of dairy sector has been described.