Intention to use alternative cooking energy among households of Northeastern Nigeria

Abstract

Energy is one of the global challenges attracting more concern at both local and international levels due to its impact on health and the environment. Ensuring accessibility to sustainable, affordable, reliable and modern energy is one of the SDG goals intended to be achieved before 2030. The standard of living of a family is determined by the type of energy and pattern of its utilization by the households. However, many households in developing countries are not using alternative energy sources despite their abundance and potential. This study investigates the predominant energy sources and drivers of intention to use alternative ones as cooking energy among households in Northeastern Nigeria. Three hundred and thirty-nine (339) households were selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure for the study, and data were collected using a structured questionnaire. The result revealed that firewood and charcoal were the dominant energy sources used for cooking by households (63.13 % and 52.37 %, respectively) due to their relatively low cost and ease of access. Electricity, LPG, and solar are the cooking energy sources that over 90 % of households are willing to adopt as alternatives. The ease of using the alternative cooking energy sources their availability and accessing energy information via radio, NGOs and universities/research institutions affect the household's intention to use alternative cooking energy sources in a positive way. Ensuring a constant supply of electricity, subsidizing solar PV, making LPG available and affordable to households, provision of clean and modern stoves at a subsidized price and collaboration with universities, NGOs for awareness creation will help reduce deforestation and over-dependence on firewood, thereby protecting the health and the environment.