Solar energy has drawn a lot of attentions more than ever before as an alternative to fossil fuels for its unique advantages as cheapness, creating no pollution, being unlimited and endless and its exertion of no negative effect on the environment. But, despite Iran’s favorable geographical position, the use of this energy has been limited. Therefore, the present study aims at investigating the role of factors influencing non-use of solar energy in residential regions based on Roger’s diffusion of innovation theory. The theoretical framework used is based on prior domestic and foreign research and a combination of sociological theories. The study method is qualitative based on grounded theory. The required data have been collected based on field method and the sampling was carried out through purposive sampling method so that 10 experts and specialists of solar energy were participated. All of the interviews were made based on a semi-structured method. Moreover, comparative analysis was the method of choice for analyzing the data. The results obtained from the interviews indicated that eight indicators, namely instructional, economic, social and cultural, technical, legal, managerial, policy-making and attitudinal barriers, are amongst the reasons for non-use of solar energy as pinpointed by the group of the experts and specialists. According to the present study’s findings based on the experts’ notions regarding non-use of solar energy in residential regions, it can be stated that the results of the current research paper are consistent with what has been found in research conducted by Abdousi, SANA experts, Cotler and UN’s development program and also that the instructional, economic, social and cultural, technical, legal, managerial, policy-making and attitudinal subjects are the most important indicators of making non-use of solar energy in the society for the case study of Ardabil.
