Solar Home Systems in South Asia: Examining Adoption, Energy Consumption, and Social Practices

Nathanael Ojong

doi:10.3390/su13147754

Abstract

Renewable electricity generation from solar energy has rapidly increased in South Asia. This paper presents a systematic review of 79 scholarly papers on the topic of solar home system adoption, energy consumption, and social practices in South Asia. Using an intersectionality lens, the paper demonstrates that various categories of difference, such as gender, age, class, and ethnicity, intersect and shape the adoption of this technology in South Asia. Utilizing a social practice theory lens, the paper shows that solar home systems shape the spatial and temporal arrangements and practices of members of households that have adopted the technology, as well as their counterparts who have not. This technology has a practical but also symbolic function; the symbolic function and social meaning are derived from the economic and socio-cultural contexts. As this renewable energy technology is embedded in economic and socio-cultural contexts, people reconfigure it in creative ways to meet their everyday energy needs. The paper identifies research gaps and suggests future research agendas.

Highlights

Decentralised renewable energy technologies, such as solar home systems (SHSs), are increasingly being used to provide electricity in South Asia
I conducted a country-by-country search, meaning that all 8 South Asian country names (Bangladesh, Nepal, Afghanistan, Bhutan, Maldives, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan) were searched for in order to obtain the relevant literature related to these countries and to make sure that the search targeted literature related to these countries
The purpose of this study lies in understanding energy consumption behaviours as well as the social elements of SHS adoption and energy use in households that have adopted these products

Summary

Introduction

Decentralised renewable energy technologies, such as solar home systems (SHSs), are increasingly being used to provide electricity in South Asia. In Bangladesh, which is at the forefront of SHS adoption in South Asia, about. 20 million people have access to electricity through this technology [1], while according to estimates, the SHS market in India will increase from 18% in 2018 to 42% by 2023 [2]. In. Nepal, over 900,000 households have access to energy via stand-alone photovoltaic (PV). In Pakistan, the Sindh Solar Energy Project recently allocated US$30 million to provide 200,000 rural households with access to SHSs [5]. Papersall eight countries that make up the South Asian region, thisonstudy comprised India. Bangladesh the by leading countries with respect to publications in academic.

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