Socioeconomic impact of solar home systems in rural Sri Lanka

Abstract

The use of solar photovoltaic systems of 25Wp to 50Wp (or frequently called as solar home systems) have been spreading fast in the rural areas of Sri Lanka as a source of energy used for domestic lighting, mainly due to the financial incentives provided by the donor agencies and aggressive marketing strategies of the SHS dealers in rural areas. This paper presents the outcome and the analysis of a study conducted with the objective of investigating the social, economic and the environmental impact of Solar Home Systems in the rural Sri Lanka. The study involved in conducting a survey of 125 households in the Uva province of Sri Lanka having Solar Home Systems, through personal visits. It was evident that the households are extremely satisfied with the technology that has replaced their kerosene lamps, which had been providing household lighting requirements. The quality of life in terms of activities such as longer study hours of children, longer TV watching hours for the family and lessening the risk of fatal kerosene lamp accidents, has improved with the introduction of the solar home systems. It is concluded that the large-scale penetration of the solar home systems in Sri Lanka has helped the rural communities both in terms of improved socioeconomic conditions and reduced adverse environmental impacts contrary to the belief that the financial burden of such systems imposed on the families outweigh the benefits. But when comparing the benefits of SHS over the extension of the national grid, the country needs to seriously examine its options for the areas presently targeted by the SHS dealers.