Abstract Tea processing is an energy-intensive process that requires substantial heat, mainly from fuelwood, to reduce green leaves moisture and to dry fermented black tea. This has led to the demand for fuelwood exceeding supply. As a result, tea factories exploit the forests within their catchment areas, falling short of the necessary forest cover requirements and contributing to ecological imbalances. To address this issue, tea factories, particularly those managed by KTDA, have pursued two primary avenues for optimal energy sourcing: creating their fuelwood plantations and using briquettes for co-firing alongside fuelwood. However, the high cost of acquiring sufficient land, alongside the expenses of planting and maintaining fuelwood plantations until maturity, compared to the adoption of briquettes, is a significant challenge for these tea factories. Against this background, this study aimed to assess the pathway to the desired energy mix for KTDA tea factories and examine the factors that define this energy mix. The study was informed by the Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory. The main data source was the KTDA Fuelwood Plantation Programme (2015-2023). The study adopted the Ordinary Least Squares model. The findings indicate that tea factories are harvesting less than their established targets from their plantations. Furthermore, despite a 620-acre target for fuelwood production, many factories struggle to meet their goals. Those acquiring less than 50 per cent of the target land generate only 8.0 per cent of their energy needs from their own plantations, while those achieving at least 50 per cent of the target produce 13.1 per cent of their energy requirements. Additionally, the adoption of briquettes remains low, typically below 5.0 per cent. Therefore, the tea factories are at a very early stage of energy transition. Based on the findings, tea factories could enhance the alignment of tree species with site conditions to improve growth and yield. Additionally, factories could aim to harvest mature trees once they reach 6-8 years of age for optimal productivity. There should be an increase in the adoption of briquettes to boost their usage beyond the current low rates. Factories that have not acquired the necessary land could strive to meet the 620- acre target for fuelwood production to enhance energy self-sufficiency.