It is widely believed that access to modern energy fosters economic and social development. Yet, in many developing countries, especially in rural Sub-Saharan Africa, electrification rate is still very low as around ten percent of the population use electricity. In rural Rwanda, the electrification rate is even considerably lower despite the government’s effort to improve access to modern sources of energy. The present paper seeks to find out the main barriers to adoption of new energy solutions by end-users thanks to analysis of data collected through a survey conducted in all eight districts of the Southern Province of Rwanda. Respondents were selected randomly provided their dwellings were located in the immediate vicinity of low voltage line in rural area. Households in possession of biogas plants, solar photovoltaic systems, and improved stoves were also targeted. Despite the governments and its stakeholders’ effort to promote new sources of energy which are environment friendly, the survey revealed that biomass is still the main source of energy used in the Southern Province with 87 percent of households using firewood whereas other sources of energy such electricity, peat, biogas and LPG have not yet entered the rural community. Main constraints to adoption of new energy solutions reported by respondents were high cost of electricity, solar systems and biogas plants, poor design of improved stoves, non maintenance of solar and biogas plants. Improved stoves and ignorance of alternatives new energy solutions were also mentioned. To boost adoption of new energy solutions, it is still imperative to think about innovative solutions to address energy problems and largely disseminate them in the rural community.
Théoneste et al. (Wed,) studied this question.
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