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Unwrapping the nexus between the off-grid system and its impact on the islands and remote villages of Ghana

Richard Kwasi Bannor (Department of Agribusiness Management and Consumer Studies, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana)
Bismark Amfo (Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana)
Khadija Sarquah (Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana)
Helena Oppong-Kyeremeh (Department of Agribusiness Management and Consumer Studies, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana)
Samuel Kwabena Chaa Kyire (Department of Agribusiness Management and Consumer Studies, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana)

International Journal of Energy Sector Management

ISSN: 1750-6220

Article publication date: 29 March 2022

Issue publication date: 2 January 2023

200

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to focus on the nexus between off-grid systems and impacts on islands and remote villages in Ghana by investigating the sources and cost of energy, willingness to pay for electricity and impacts of off-grid energy on the local economy, education, health, social activities, the environment and migration.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were obtained from 110 households; heterogeneous impact analysis of off-grid technologies, average treatment effect by inverse probability weights (IPW) and inverse probability weighted regression adjustment (IPWRA) models were used to analyse the data.

Findings

The sources of energy are gas, kerosene, wood fuel and dry-cell battery. All households in communities with neither electricity nor off-grid system were willing to pay for electricity. Households without off-grid systems (US$8.1) were willing to pay higher amounts per month for electricity. The off-grid technologies improve the local economy, social activities, security, the environment, education and health as well as reduce out-migration.

Originality/value

Most of the literature on mini-grid/off-grid systems have been from the engineering and the technical perspective, with a few on the socioeconomic impacts of the systems and consumer engagements. Besides, methods including descriptive statistics, energy technology sustainability framework and qualitative analysis were used in these studies. Nevertheless, the authors used a more rigorous method of the doubly robust inverse probability weighted regression adjustment model and a heterogeneous method to model the impact analysis of off-grid systems.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The authors express their deepest gratitude to Ms Wilhemina Kwabeng Owusu for proofreading the draft manuscript. Ms Precious Opoku-Dapaah’s support in making the map (Figure 1) is highly appreciated.

Citation

Bannor, R.K., Amfo, B., Sarquah, K., Oppong-Kyeremeh, H. and Kyire, S.K.C. (2023), "Unwrapping the nexus between the off-grid system and its impact on the islands and remote villages of Ghana", International Journal of Energy Sector Management, Vol. 17 No. 1, pp. 82-105. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJESM-01-2022-0004

Publisher

:

Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited

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