DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/ijred.4.3.197-204

Predictive Factors Associated with Solar Energy Development in Laikipia District Central Kenya

Environmental Health Sciences, California State University, East Bay 25800 Carlos Bee Blvd., Hayward 94542, CA,, United States

Published: 15 Oct 2015.
Editor(s): H Hadiyanto
Open Access Copyright (c) 2015 The Authors. Published by Centre of Biomass and Renewable Energy (CBIORE)
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Citation Format:
Abstract
The abundance of sunlight and the availability affordable solar technologies in many areas far from grid-based electricity has sparked the development of renewable energy technologies (RETs) which tap solar radiation energy to provide electricity. A study on solar photovoltaics (SPVs) use and utilization took place in the Wiyumiririe Location of Kenya. A purposive randomized convenience sample of 246 households was selected and landowner interviews conducted guided by a questionnaire, followed by field surveys and observations. Although solar energy contributed less than a quarter of total household energy needs, residents specifically associated it with specific developmental initiatives. Correlation and logistic regression model analyses showed that solar power development was closely associated (and thus can be predicted) from five main independent variables. The findings of the study allowed the development of a probabilistic model general enough to be applicable elsewhere in the development of alternative energy resources particularly those based on solar input.
Fulltext View|Download
Keywords: SPV; solar panel; RET; predictive factors; logistic regression; solar development

Article Metrics:

Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language : EN
Recent articles
Effect of hydrothermal treatment temperature on the properties of sewage sludge derived solid fuel Combustion of Pure, Hydrolyzed and Methyl Ester Formed of Jatropha Curcas Lin oil Predictive Factors Associated with Solar Energy Development in Laikipia District Central Kenya More recent articles
Most cited articles
Solmap: Project In India's Solar Resource Assessment Energy Efficient Dryer with Rice Husk Fuel for Agriculture Drying A Novel Design of Multi-Chambered Biomass Battery The Effects of Different Roughness Configurations on Aerodynamic Performance of Wind Turbine Airfoil and Blade Investigating the effect of DG infeed on the effective cover of distance protection scheme in mixed-MV distribution network More cited articles
  1. Acker, R. H. & D. M. Kammen. (1996). The Quiet (energy) Revolution: Analysing the Dissemination of Photovoltaics Power Systems in Kenya. Energy Policy, 24(1), 81-11
  2. Abavana, C. G. (2001). The Ghana Renewable Energy Services Project. Experience with PV systems in Africa. UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment, 52-55. Roskilde, Denmark,
  3. Abavana, C. G. (2000). Renewable energy for rural electrification, The Ghana initiative. Seminar on Rural Energy Provision in Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
  4. Arvidson, A., S. Kartha, M. Lazarus, G. McGranahan, M. Molares, & S. de Vylder. (1999). Energy Interventions and Poverty Alleviation. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  5. Agresti, A. (2007). An Introduction to Categorical Data Analysis (2nd ed.). Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons
  6. Banks, D. (2003). Photovoltaic System Delivery to Rural Areas Analysis of selected business models. African Solar PV Workshop: Financing Mechanisms and Business Models, May 27-29, Pretoria, UNDP-GEF
  7. Barnes, D. F. & J. Halpern. (2000). Subsidies and Sustainable Rural Energy Services: Can We Create Incentives Without Distorting Markets? Washington DC, USA, UNDP/World Bank Energy Sector Management Assistance Programme: 12
  8. Barnett, A. (1995). Do Environmentally Imperatives Present Novel Problems and Opportunities for the International Transfer of Technology? United Nations, New York
  9. Bhutto, A. W., Bazmi, A. A., & Zahedi, G. (2011). Greener energy: Issues and challenges for Pakistan - Biomass energy prospective. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 15(6), 3207-3219
  10. Blaikie, P., K. Brown, M. Stocking, L. Tang, P. Dixon & P. Sillitoe. (1997). Knowledge in Action: Local Knowledge as a Development Resource and Barriers to its Incorporation in Natural Resource Research and Development. Agricultural Systems, 55(2), 217-237
  11. Bokalders, V. (1994). Rural Lighting - A guide for development workers, Intermediate Technology Publications
  12. Cabraal, A. & M. Cosgrove-Davies. (1999). Accelerating Sustainable PV Market Development, Asia Alternative Energy Program (ASTAE), The World Bank, Washington, D.C., USA
  13. Cabraal, A., M. Cosgrove-Davies & L. Schaeffer. (1996). Best Practices for Photovoltaic Household Electrification Programs: Lessons from Experiences in Selected Countries. Washington, The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/The World Bank
  14. Christensen, J. M. (2001). Foreword. Experience with PV systems in Africa. UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment, Roskilde, Denmark: vi-vii
  15. Diarra, D. C. & F. O. Akuffo. (2002). Solar Photovoltaic in Mali: Potential and Constraints. Energy Conversion and Management 43,151-163
  16. DME (1998). White Paper on the Energy Policy of the Republic of South Africa 1998. Available from: http://www.dme.gov.za/publications/wp_ene/whitepaper1998.htm
  17. Duke, R. D., A. Jacobson & D. M. Kammen. (2002). Photovoltaic Module Quality in the Kenyan Solar Home Systems Market. Energy Policy 30,477-499
  18. Ellegård, A., A. Arvidsson, M. Nordström, O. Kalumiana & C. Mwanza. (2003). Rural People Pay for Solar: Experiences from the Zambia PV-ESCO Project. ISES 2003, Göteborg
  19. Ellegård, A. & M. Nordström. (2001). Rural Energy Service Companies - Experiences from Zambia. Stockholm, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI: 52
  20. Ellegård, A., A. Arvidsson, M. Nordström, O. Kalumiana, & C. Mwanza. (2003). Rural People Pay for Solar: Experiences from the Zambia Pv-Esco Project. Paper presented at the ISES 2003, Gothenburg, Sweden
  21. Gustavsson, M. & A. Ellegård. (2002). The impact of solar home systems on rural livelihoods – Experiences from the Nyimba Energy Service Company in Zambia. Renewable Energy (unpublished manuscript)
  22. Green, G. (2000). Power to the People - Sunlight to Electricity Using Solar Cells. Sydney, University of South Wales Press Ltd
  23. Gustavsson, M. (2002). Solar Home System Survey 2001 - Survey results from Eastern Province Zambia. Gothenburg, Human Ecology Section: 49
  24. Gustavsson, M. (2003). Nigerian Drama and Studies at Night - Impact of Solar Electric Services on User's Livelihood Systems. Paper presented at the Paper presented on International conference ISES 2003, Gothenburg, Sweden, 14-19 June 2003
  25. Hardaway, R. (2014). As the world welcomes its seven billionth human: reflections and population, law, and the environment. Sustainable Development Law & Policy, 14(1), 4-61
  26. Horlocks, C. (2003). Shell-Eskom Solar home systems in South Africa. African Solar PV Workshop: Financing Mechanisms and Business Models, May 27-29, Pretoria, UNDP-GEF.Hosmer, D. W. & Lemeshow, S. (1989). Applied Logistic Regression, New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons
  27. International Energy Agency (IEA), (2002). Financing Mechanisms for Solar Home Systems in Developing Countries - The Role of Financing in the Dissemination Process, International Energy Agency Implementing Agreement on Photovoltaic Power Systems: 104
  28. Kalumiana, O. (2002). Rural Energy Access: Promoting Solar Home Systems in Rural Areas in Zambia - a Case Study. Paper presented at the WREC, Köln, Germany, 29 June - 5 July
  29. Khennas, S. (2002). Energy Services and Sustainable Development: a Multi-level Approach. Renewable Energy for Development 15(1/2), 12. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  30. Kjellström, B. (2005). Renewable Energy Technologies for Decentralised Rural Electricity Services. Renewable Energy for Development 18(1), 3-5
  31. Kjellström, B., M. Katyega, D. Noppen, & A. Mvungi. (1992). Rural Electrification in Tanzania: Past Experiences - New Approaches. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  32. Kjellström, B., A. Arvidson, H. Forslund, & I. Martinac, I. (2005). Report from an International Workshop held in Studsvik, Sweden 10–12 June 2004. SEI Climate and Energy Programme, Stockholm, Sweden
  33. Kumar, A., Baredar, P., & Qureshi, U. (2015). Historical and recent development of photovoltaic thermal (PVT) technologies. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews, 42, 1428-1436
  34. Leach, G. (2001). Village Power 2000 – PVs against Poverty? Renewable Energy for Development, 14(1), 4-5. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  35. Martinot, E. (2001). Renewable Energy Investment by the World Bank. Energy Policy, 29, 689-699
  36. Mbumwae, V. (1998). National Stakeholders' workshop on renewable energy in Zambia. Held on June 23, 1998, Intercontinental Hotel, Lusaka, Zambia
  37. Melwana, M. (2002). Strategies for a Sustainable Future: A Decade of Rural Electrification in South Africa (1991–2000). Renewable Energy for Development, 15(1/2), 1-3. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  38. Mokhutsoane, L. (2001). Lesotho's experience with PV systems. Experience with PV systems in Africa. UNEP Collaborating Centre on Energy and Environment: 23-26, Roskilde, Denmark,
  39. .Morales, M. M. (2002). South African Women on Water, Energy and Food. Renewable Energy for Development 15(1/2), 6-7. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  40. Mulugetta, Y. & T. Nhete. (2000). Photovoltaics in Zimbabwe: Lessons from the GEF Solar Project. Energy Policy 28, 1069-1080
  41. Nordstrom, M. (2005). The Bemused Observer - An Interview with Gerald Leach. Renewable Energy for Development 18(1):1-2. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  42. Odegard, I.Y.R. & van der Voet, E. (2014). The future of food - Scenarios and the effect on natural resource use in agriculture in 2050. Ecological Economics, 97, 51-59
  43. Ohunakin, O. S., Adaramola, M. S., Oyewola, O. M., & Fagbenle, R. O. (2014). Solar energy applications and development in Nigeria: Drivers and barriers. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews. 32, 94-301
  44. Openshaw, K. (2010). Renewable energy and development. Journal of Tropical Forest Science, 22(1), preceding p1-1
  45. Saghil, J. (2002). The Role of Energy in Sustainable Development. Renewable Energy for Development 15(1/2), 10-11. Stockholm Environmental Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
  46. Shanmugavalli, K. R. & Vedamuthu, R. (2015). Viability of solar rooftop photovoltaic systems in group housing schemes. Current Science, 108(6), 1080-1085
  47. Solar Energy International (SEI). (2007). Renewable Energy Education Program. Carbondale, Colorado
  48. SPSS Software (IBM). (2015). Information available at http://www-01.ibm.com/software/analytics/spss/
  49. Stone, L. (1997). Solar Baking under the Sonoran Sun. Home Power, 59, 1-4
  50. Tickell, O. (2012). Renewable revolution. Resurgence & Ecologist, 273, 13-15
  51. Wade, H. (1997). Solar Photovoltaics for Rural Electrification - What Happened to the Promises? Renewable Energy for Development 10(1), 4-6
  52. Wambuguh, O. (2013). A Review of a Successful Unsubsidized Market-Based Rural Solar Development Initiative in Laikipia District, Central Kenya. International Journal of Renewable Energy Development, 2(3), 151-164
  53. Weggoro, N. C. (2006). East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania Renewable Energy for Development 19(2), 11
  54. Zar, J. H. (2009). Biostatistical Analysis (5th ed.). New York, NY: Pearson Publishers

Last update:

No citation recorded.

Last update: 2024-12-27 03:44:52

No citation recorded.