Disruptive innovation for inclusive renewable policy in sub-Saharan Africa: A social shaping of technology analysis of appliance uptake in Rwanda

Olivia Muza,Ramit Debnath

doi:10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.091

Olivia Muza, Ramit Debnath

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2020.12.091

Copy DOI

Journal: Renewable Energy	Publication Date: Dec 23, 2020
Citations: 17	License type: cc-by

Affiliation: University of Rwanda, University of Cambridge

Abstract

Rural off-grid renewable energy solutions often fail due to uncertainties in household energy demand, insufficient community engagement, inappropriate financial models and policy inconsistency. Social shaping of technology (SST) of household appliances provides a critical lens of understanding the involved socio-technical drivers behind these constraints. This study employs an SST lens to investigate appliance uptake drivers in 14,580 households in Rwanda, such that these drivers can aid in policy design for green growth at the grassroots level. The methodology includes an epistemological review of non-income drivers of appliance uptake. Empirical analysis using a binary logistic regression, based on which disruptive innovation pathways were derived for fostering green growth. Results showed that appliance uptake was highly gendered and skewed across the Ubudehe (social welfare) categories. ICT-devices like mobile phones and radios had a higher likelihood of ownership than welfare appliances like refrigerator and laundry machines. Fans and cookers also demonstrated a greater probability of ownership. Disruptive innovation pathways were derived from leveraging the ICT-driven wave of appliance ownership, creation of service sectors through off-grid renewable solutions and promoting cleaner fuel-switching of cooking energy at the household level. Further policy implications were drawn to support the creation of consumption identities for green growth.

Highlights

IntroductionPreferences, ownership and benefits from electrical appliances for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (poverty reduction), 7 (affordable and clean energy provisioning) and 17 (partnerships for the goals) remain an under-researched area in the off-grid and rural context of the Global South
Gendered perceptions, preferences, ownership and benefits from electrical appliances for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1, 7 and 17 remain an under-researched area in the off-grid and rural context of the Global South
It can be observed that information and communication technologies (ICT) devices like the radios and mobile phones have the most appliance uptake across the rural (78.7%) and urban (36.7%) household with 93.9% of the mobile phones are owned by the male head of households (HoH), female-headed household showed 21.6% of the total mobile phones ownership

Summary

Introduction

Preferences, ownership and benefits from electrical appliances for United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) 1 (poverty reduction), 7 (affordable and clean energy provisioning) and 17 (partnerships for the goals) remain an under-researched area in the off-grid and rural context of the Global South. People in rural areas still use traditional stoves with biomass-based fuel for cooking and kerosene for lighting [1]. It has significant adverse health and wellbeing implications on the national burden of diseases and is extensively acknowledged in the literature [2]. It remains the case for 2.8 billion people globally [3]. With the contemporary regime of micro-girds and renewable energy transition, it is crucial to understand the demand-side response of renewable technology innovations in resourceconstrained setting (like rural areas) for designing good energy policy [4]

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion