Abstract:
Developing renewable energy initiatives in Pakistan faces numerous barriers that
hinder adoption by the population. Fossil fuel usage in the construction materials
industry contributes to climate change, exacerbating environmental problems. In
addition to that, Pakistan has been facing an energy crisis for decades. This study
examines barriers to solar, wind, and biomass renewable energy in Pakistan's
construction materials industry by ranking them using the Relative Importance Index.
Fuzzy DEMATEL is applied to determine the causes and effects of these barriers, and
strategies for overcoming them are proposed from the literature. The most influential
criteria are high initial capital cost, lack of R&D facilities, and inadequate regulatory
framework, while ecological issues, public comfort with traditional electricity
systems, and lack of sufficient market-based R&D for renewable energy products play
a dominant role. Detailed recommendations for removing these barriers and
enhancing renewable energy adoption are provided, including strategies validated
through the Delphi technique. The findings will support energy sector policy
decisions and facilitate renewable energy adoption in Pakistan's construction materials
industry.
