Challenges to solar energy adoption in rural Ethiopia
Despite the falling costs and increasing accessibility of home solar energy systems, significant barriers hinder their widespread use in remote areas of developing countries, such as Ethiopia, where they could significantly improve healthcare and education.
Cheap, yet uncertified and inferior solar panels, together with limited government involvement in rural energy transition, hinder access to reliable electricity for these communities.
When homes use solar energy, it replaces harmful kerosene lamps, providing a healthier, more environmentally friendly alternative and allowing children to study in the dark.
“Understanding the dynamics of renewable energy adoption in the rural sectors of the South is critical,” said Yujin Lee, a doctoral student in Cornell University’s Department of Urban and Regional Planning and first author of a related study in Energy Policy .
Chuan Liao, senior author and research assistant professor in Cornell’s Department of Global Development, emphasized: “The global shift to renewable and clean energy sources must include remote and rural populations in the developing world.”
Ethiopia’s National Electrification Strategy aims to power all homes within 25 kilometers of the grid by 2030. Off-grid solutions for the longer term are planned in the houses further away.
However, the prevalence of low-quality solar panels, which often fail and contribute to environmental waste, is a barrier to adoption. Moreover, the few government visits to rural villages, villages without electricity grids or roadless villages lead to poorly informed policies.
“Government reports often do not reflect the actual situation in rural areas,” noted Lee, who found that actual solar adoption was significantly lower than official claims.
Lee advocates greater government presence in rural communities, greater public involvement in energy management and better communication between governments, private sectors, international organizations and end-users to support sustainable energy solutions.