Assessment of dissemination strategies and factors influencing adoption of solar (pv) energy in Bagamoyo district, Tanzania.

The objectives for this study were to explore strategies used to facilitate dissemination of Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Energy in the study area, to assess the extent at which communities have adopted solar (PV) energy in the study area, to establish factors influencing solar (PV) energy adoption in communities in the study area, and to examine benefits of solar (PV) energy use in Bagamoyo District, Tanzania. The study was mainly informed by diffusion theory. The sample size was 211 respondents from Zinga and Kondo villages. Respondents were obtained through stratified sampling procedure. Structured interviews, observation, and Global Positioning System (GPS) were used to collect data. Solar adoption pattern was determined by using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and ArcMap 10.3. Data collected were analysed by using descriptive statistics, and logistic regression model using IBM SPSS 23 software. Findings showed that strategies of solar (PV) energy dissemination depended on various actors such as international organisations, non-governmental organisations, government, Faith Based Institutions and private agents. The extent of solar (PV) energy adoption indicated a total of 55.9 percent of respondents to have adopted solar (PV) energy, while a total of 44.1 percent to have not adopted solar (PV). Factors that significantly influenced adoption were income and awareness. Among the benefits of solar (PV) energy adoption were improved availability of light, employment, and increased income. Recommended area for further studies was on improving solar (PV) energy battery capacity, solar panels efficiency and use of thermal solar energy.