The Dissemination and Determinants of Capacity Choice of Solar Home System among Female-headed Households, the case of Rural Areas of Eastern Tigray, Ethiopia

Abstract

Solar home systems (SHS) are a clean-energy alternative in rural areas of developing countries, where firewood is a major source of energy. This study examines the dissemination of Solar Home Systems (SHS) and their role in improving rural women’s livelihoods, with particular emphasis on the determinants of capacity choice among female-headed households in rural Tigray, Ethiopia. In contexts where biomass energy remains dominant, SHS offers a clean and sustainable alternative with significant implications for gender equality, energy access, and climate resilience. The study employed a mixed-methods approach using cross-sectional data collected from 161 purposively selected female-headed households, complemented by key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and field observations. The findings reveal that SHS dissemination in the study area is largely facilitated through local energy offices and peer-to-peer information sharing, with personal observation playing a critical role in influencing adoption decisions. Opportunities for SHS expansion include increasing awareness, availability of microfinance services, and the growing demand for clean energy solutions. The results further indicate that SHS contributes positively to women’s livelihoods by reducing time spent on fuelwood collection, lowering exposure to indoor air pollution, enhancing income-generating activities, and improving educational outcomes through extended study hours for children. Econometric analysis using an Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model shows that economic factors are the most significant determinants of SHS capacity choice. The study results reveal that higher SHS costs significantly reduce the likelihood of choosing higher-capacity SHS (P<0.001), while higher income increases the likelihood of choosing higher-capacity SHS (P<0.001). Age was also a significant determinant, with older individuals less likely to adopt higher-capacity SHS (P<0.05). Although education was positively associated with capacity choice, it was not statistically significant. Family size, marital status, and occupation had weak effects on the choice of higher-capacity SHS, while the number of students and the presence of female students in the household also had minimal influence. Mobile ownership was marginally negatively correlated with SHS higher-capacity capacity choice (P<0.10). Overall, the study highlights that while SHS dissemination has meaningful livelihood benefits for rural women, scaling up higher-capacity adoption requires targeted financial interventions. Policies promoting subsidies, flexible credit schemes, and awareness creation are essential to enhance equitable access to clean energy and support sustainable rural development.