The use and determinants of solar energy by Sub-Saharan African households

Abstract

Using data from Ethiopia’s, Tanzania’s, and Uganda’s Living Standards Measurement Surveys (LSMS), this article explains the factors affecting the choice of solar energy for domestic purposes. Econometric results reveal that household demographics such as the household size and its composition including the number of adult males, the number of children under 15 years, the level of education of the household head and household wealth play major roles in the choice of solar energy. It clearly establishes that, with the increase in the household head’s education level, the probability of using solar energy increases progressively. Wealthier families are more likely to use solar energy compared to relatively poorer families. Ethiopia and Tanzania are found to have a higher probability of adopting solar energy compared to Uganda. Energy policy should focus on augmenting the level of education and income for scaling up the adoption of solar energy.

Keywords

• solar energy
• household
• education
• wealth
• sub-saharan africa