The role of internet of things adoption on the sustainability performance of the renewable energy supply chain: A conceptual framework

To effectively integrate clean energy resources into the supply chain (SC) and optimize energy consumption, the digitalization of renewable energy supply chain (RESC) plays a vital role in the future. Nonetheless, society must accept these emerging RE technologies to transition successfully into mainstream energy resources. The Internet of Things (IoT) technology can resolve the challenges facing RESC (solar energy) to achieve sustainable development strategies. This study examines how IoT adoption affects the sustainability of the RESC. The sample size consisted of 175 active companies in the RESC in Iran, and a standard questionnaire is distributed among them using a simple random method. Structural equation modeling was used to investigate the hypothesis. We evaluated the questionnaire's discriminative validity, computed composite reliability, and computed Cronbach's alpha to determine its validity and reliability. The results revealed that our research validates six hypotheses about the relevance between lean and eco-friendly actions, SC integration, performance perceived benefit, expenses, peers and government support, and IoT adoption. The findings also suggest adopting IoT technology as a broad-based strategy to attain sustainability in the energy context. As a result of its transparency, immutability, and security features, IoT presents a viable option for RESC sustainability.