Abstract
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems have shown their potential in rural electrification projects around the Wolaita Zone, especially concerning Solar Home Systems (SHS). With continuing price decreases of PV systems, other applications are becoming economically attractive and growing experience is gained with the use of PV in such areas as social and communal services, agriculture and other productive activities, which can have a significant impact on rural development. There is still a lack of information, however, on the potential and limitations of such PV applications. The main objective of this study is, therefore, to contribute to a better understanding of the potential impact of PV systems on sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD), especially concerning income-generating activities in Wolaita Zone. In addition, to identify the potential contribution of PV to rural development in order to gain further financial and political commitment for PV projects and programs and to design appropriate PV projects to study area. The preparation of the present study represents Solar photovoltaic systems, through their flexibility in use, offer unique chances for the energy sector to provide “packages” of energy services to remote rural areas such as for rural health care, education, communication, agriculture, lighting and water supply. It is hoped that this document contributes to the generation of ideas and discussions among the different institutions involved in providing these services to rural areas in Wolaita Zone to overcome affordability (cost of the technology relative to farmer income levels), awareness (knowledge about the technology), accessibility (options for obtaining the technology), and lack of customization (capacity to match farmer needs with technological solutions). Keywords : solar energy; photovoltaic; rural development; income generation; agriculture DOI: 10.7176/JETP/11-4-01 Publication date: July 31 st 2021
Highlights
Most of the remote rural areas of Ethiopia are not yet electrified
Study Design A Completely Randomized Design was been used for analysis of impact and potential of PV applications, a division is made by sectors of rural society: households, social and communal services, off-farm productive uses and agriculture and field survey analysis were done in all selected Villages’ of wolaita zone and all experts who are working in Technology distributing centers and energy source related sectors and all government employed women and men who have better experience, knowledge, and belief about impact and potential of PV and utilization
5.1 Recommendations to promote PV for sustainable agriculture and rural development (SARD) The following are recommendations arising from the study with the aim to use the opportunities that PV systems offer in contributing to Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development
Summary
Most of the remote rural areas of Ethiopia are not yet electrified. Electrifying these remote areas by extending grid system to these rural communities is difficult and costly. As the current international trend in rural electrification is to utilize renewable energy resources; solar, wind, biomass, and micro hydro power systems can be seen as alternatives. As mentioned in [9] the total annual solar radiation reaching the territory is of the order of over 200 million tone oil equivalent (toe) per year, over thirteen fold the total annual energy consumption in the country. In terms of gross domestic product (GDP) per capita Ethiopia is rated 174th of 179 and in terms of human development index it is rated 169th of 177 [8]. These numbers indicate Ethiopia as one of the poorest countries in the world. Most Ethiopians live in rural areas (84%) and only 1% of those have access to electricity
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