Factors influencing implementation of solar energy projects in Homa-bay County, Kenya

Abstract

This study sought to examine the factors influencing the implementation of solar energy projects in Homa-bay County, Kenya. From the outset, as detailed in the background, the value proposition of renewables, especially solar energy systems are well covered. The study sought to examine four objectives which are: to determine the extent to which government policy influences the implementation of solar energy projects; to investigate how cost of installation influences the implementation of solar energy projects; to examine how availability of markets influence the implementation of solar energy projects and to investigate how level of technological awareness influences the implementation of solar energy projects. These four themes developed from the study were advanced and explored to a greater extent. The literature reviewed was organized according to study themes. It is hoped that the findings of this study would be important to solar energy projects financiers, policy makers’ and stakeholders in the energy environment as they will be equipped with key environmental conscious dimension of energy use in rural households. The study might also provide alternative futures of household solar energy financing models through scenario analysis which is very useful in policy formulation. The study is grounded on Resource Based Theory (RBT) and Innovative Diffusion Theory (IDT) which advance the parameters in this study. Descriptive survey design was used in this study. The population for the study comprised of 1,100 contractors and technicians licensed by energy regulatory commission for photovoltaic solar systems and hot water solar systems installations in Homa-bay County. The sample size was 110 contractors/ technicians determined by the use of Krejcie and Morgan Table for sample size determination. The study adopted simple random sampling technique to sample installers of home solar systems. Primary data was collected by means of questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Collected data has been analyzed by means of SPSS,and presented in tables and bar graphs. From these analysis, discussion on the various objective questions has been undertaken and recommendations made thereof. Among the findings of this study are that government policy, Level of technological awareness, availability of markets and costs of installation considerably influence the implementation of solar energy projects in Homa-bay County.