From awareness to adoption: Stakeholder perceptions of solar lights among marginalized communities in rural India

Environmental challenges posed by the increasing use of fossil fuels and their gradual depletion have induced initiatives towards promotion and adoption of sustainable and eco-friendly energy alternatives globally. However, while such initiatives play catalytic role in promoting large scale adoption of renewable energy sources, several socio-economic and behavioural aspects are also expected to significantly influence the households' willingness to accept and adopt these alternatives. Given this backdrop, this study explores how households' perceptions about the benefits influence adoption of solar energy by the marginalized communities in rural context. The paper is based on the experiences and insights from two selected blocks of West Bengal, India. In addition to the primary survey of 153 sample households, including both beneficiaries and non-beneficiaries, the paper also uses data and information gathered through personal interviews and focus group discussions. Using principal component analysis, the paper finds that knowledge and awareness, ease of operation and maintenance, performance, and economic benefits influence households' willingness to adopt solar lights significantly. These factors together contribute to 70.68 % of the variance in households' willingness in this regard. Besides, trusts among different stakeholders also raise households' willingness to adopt such technologies. Thus, emphasis should be given on promoting awareness of renewable energy technologies and building trust and confidence among different stakeholders, particularly in rural areas, through social mobilization, capacity building programs, and community outreach.