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The role of socio-Culture in the solar power adoption: The inability to reach government policies of marginalized groups

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  • Lin, Boqiang
  • Kaewkhunok, Suppawit

Abstract

Renewable energy is one of the key policies of many developing countries to strengthen rural people's access to electricity and not connect to the national grid. However, the determination of the decision to accept renewable energy technologies still lacks a clear understanding. Estimating a cross-sectional survey, this study analyzed the impact of the ethnic-caste factor on the adoption of solar power technology in Nepal. The results reveal that Dalit and Madhesi households that are the lowest caste and marginalized ethnic group within Nepal society were about 36.3% and 79.8% less likely to adopt solar power technology compared to the high caste households, respectively. Using propensity score matching to deal with bias and inconsistent estimates, the results confirm the impact of the ethnic-caste system on solar power technology adoption. The findings reflect that aside from the economic variables that play a role in determining the adoption of renewable energy technologies, social and cultural factors are also significant. The main policy implication is that policymakers should consider a holistic approach to renewable energy policy design, especially the socio-cultural factor priorities, to increase the opportunities for government policy access among marginalized groups.

Suggested Citation

  • Lin, Boqiang & Kaewkhunok, Suppawit, 2021. "The role of socio-Culture in the solar power adoption: The inability to reach government policies of marginalized groups," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:144:y:2021:i:c:s1364032121003257
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2021.111035
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    1. Bhattarai, Utsav & Maraseni, Tek & Apan, Armando & Devkota, Laxmi Prasad, 2023. "Rationalizing donations and subsidies: Energy ecosystem development for sustainable renewable energy transition in Nepal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 177(C).
    2. Li, Jiajia & Li, Houjian, 2022. "Spiritual support or living support: Which alleviates solid fuel use for rural households in ethnical minority regions of China?," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 479-491.
    3. Beyene, Abebe D. & Mekonnen, Alemu & Jeuland, Marc & Czakon, Sebastian, 2024. "Socioeconomic impacts of solar home systems in rural Ethiopia," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    4. Koirala, Dhiroj Prasad & Acharya, Bikram, 2022. "Households’ fuel choices in the context of a decade-long load-shedding problem in Nepal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    5. Rahut, Dil Bahadur & Aryal, Jeetendra Prakash & Chhay, Panharoth & Sonobe, Tetsushi, 2022. "Ethnicity/caste-based social differentiation and the consumption of clean cooking energy in Nepal: An exploration using panel data," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 112(C).
    6. Rahut, Dil Bahadur & Aryal, Jeetendra Prakash & Manchanda, Navneet & Sonobe, Tetsushi, 2024. "Examining energy justice: Empirical analysis of clean cooking transition across social groups in India, 2004–2018," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 193(C).
    7. Badole, Sachin B. & Bird, Stephen & Heintzelman, Martin D. & Legault, Lisa, 2024. "Willingness to pay for solar adoption: Economic, ideological, motivational, and demographic factors," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 136(C).

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