Determinants of Home Lighting Fuel Choices in Rwanda: A Discrete Choice Analysis

Abstract

Renewable technologies such as solar present some of the possibilities for indoor and outdoor lighting in the remotest rural Africa where grid connections may take ages. This paper examined the key determinants that drive household lighting fuel using a nationally representative sample (14,415 households) across Rwanda. Results from a multinomial probit regression show that rural location, house ownership, household wealth, and nonfarm work are some of significant factors that influence lighting fuel choices in Rwanda. Robustness of the results indicates that household wealth levels and other regional differences are likely to influence choice probability for using clean energy sources such as solar confirming the need to priotise wealth generation. The study's findings suggest the need for joint efforts by government and non-state actors to priotise household wealth generation, promotion of non-farm activities and improvement of infrastructures to reduce rural-urban bias and differences across the regions, assuming that wealth will motivate rural households to switch to clean energy sources.

Unveiling determinants of household lighting preferences in rural Tanzania: insights for sustainable energy access

“…This finding contrasts with Giri and Goswami, (2017), who found that household total income significantly influences the choice of solar energy for lighting in Nepal, rather than grid electricity. In addition, Khundi-Mkomba et al, (2020) indicated that households in the richer class have higher odds of using solar panels compared to others. Emmanuel, (2021) also found that household total income is statistically significant in influencing lighting choices for grid electricity and candle lighting.…”