A systematic review and meta-analysis of solar technology impacts on rural households: experiences from the Global South.
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Date
2021
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Abstract
Renewable energy technologies are widely prescribed to address multiple developmental
needs, especially in developing contexts. As reflected in the growing body of literature, these
devices and energy sources can generate socio-economic and environmental benefits and offer
relatively rapid transitions to more sustainable practices. In this regard, it is essential to
understand and identify the links among their impacts at a household and community level.
This study aimed to critically examine how the impacts of solar technologies have been
examined and measured at the household level, focusing on low-income and rural communities
across the Global South. This review systematically focuses on research within a specified
temporal range, 1999 to 2019, concerning the UNDG’s definition of impact and the sustainable
livelihood’s theoretical framework. The motivation for this review is to establish whether
research of the developing contexts have been able to respond to the multi-dimensionality of
energy access and determine whether research has been a reflection of the changing energy
narratives on energy needs. In addition, this review examines how and whether the impacts of
solar energy technologies (SETs) are examined in relation to specific livelihood outcomes.
Following the PRISMA 2009 and 2020 guideline for systematic reviews, the Web of Science,
Google Scholar, and WorldCat databases were used. The initial search yielded (n=175187),
which was later reduced to a total of n=56 cases that met the geographic, temporal, and contentrelated
criteria. It was found that over the temporal range, Global South countries contributed
a significantly lower number of published research compared to the global north countries.
Over time, progressive trends in the proportion, dissemination and development of different
SET’s could be identified as literature was found to have investigated several types of SETs
across 24 different Global South countries using eight different analyses dominated by mixedmethod
approaches and field survey methods. The meta-analysis revealed that despite the
diversity in indicators, no studies reported against all capital bases of rural livelihoods. In
addition, the classification identified that there were more qualitative and indirect measures of
SET impact at the household level. Despite financial indicators appearing in all the reviewed
studies, the diversity and inclusivity of the indicators used were reflected in the increasing
proportion with which other livelihood impacts were recorded over the temporal range. From
the analysis of mean impacts, the overall impression given is that SET’s have a positive impact
on the livelihoods rural households in developing countries. However, the proportion of studies
using each indicator is insufficient for these impacts to be definitive due to the variation. The
review concludes that the impacts of solar technologies at the household level in developing
contexts are not specific to livelihoods benefits in how they are reported. This makes it difficult
to assess the overall successes of RET- transfer in the domestic sector. A recommendation
based on this review is to use mixed method approaches, more diverse indicators and the SLA
and UNDG’s definition of impact. This would ensure that future impact analyses are a true
reflection of all possible impacts of SET’s on rural households and the selection of the most
appropriate SET’s to be installed in rural households. There should be significant efforts to
bring together academia, industry, and government to facilitate and encourage further research
and expand SET’s across more developing countries to promote development and innovation
within the industry. Lastly, to ensure that SET’s have a sustainable impact on rural households
the operation and maintenance of SET’s needs to increase.
Description
Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.