Determinants of Solar of Panel Adoption, Disadoption and Use in Malawi

Abstract

Malawi has one of the lowest rates of electricity access in the world with high rates of blackouts due to reliance on a hydropower system whose capacity is adversely affected by droughts and flooding . There has been a push to expand electricity access wi th solar energy seen as a sustainable path , particularly in rural settings. We use four waves of the nationally represent ative Malawi Integraged Household Survey (IHS) spanning the period 2010 to 2020 to examine determinants of household adoption and disadoption of solar panels . Specifically we explore trends in adoption, what energy services households are using solar pane ls for, characterisics of households who adopt, and from among those who adopt, who is likely to disadopt. Between 2010 and 2020 household adoption of solar panels increased from 1.2 % to 19.5 %, with higher rates of take - up in rural settings ( 21.7 % by 2020 ) compared to urban settings ( 9.8 % by 2020). Among those who adopt solar panels , fewer than 1% of households report using solar for lighting, suggesting that solar adoption does not necessarily equate to provision of lighting services. We find the househo lds most likely to adopt solar panel are in rural areas, are male headed , own a mobile phone , and own a tv or radi o . Policy makers seeking to improve energy access should consider not only uptake of solar panels but also patterns of use and re consider the assumption that rapid solar upt ak e will lead to provision of lighting services, a key dimension of household energy access