Energy Environment and Economy
Energy, Environment and Sustainable Sciences
  1. You are here:
  2. Home
  3. Journals
  4. Engineering
Energy Environment and Economy

Volume 3 Number 1 2025

Article Contents

RESEARCH ARTICLE   (Open Access)
Contents Vol 3 (1)

Exploring the Role of Renewable Energy in Enhancing Rural Livelihoods

Ashok Kumar Chowdhury1*, Md Mofasel Hossain2

+ Author Affiliations

Energy Environment and Economy 3 (1) 1-7 https://doi.org/10.25163/energy.3110328

Submitted: 12 November 2024 Revised: 05 January 2025  Published: 07 January 2025 

Abstract

Background: Renewable energy has become an increasingly valuable resource to promote sustainable development and to improve rural livelihoods, especially in off-grid rural areas. This study explores the adoption of, perception of, and socio-economic impact of renewable energy technologies based on a study of 100 rural respondents using a structured survey. In particular, the study focuses on clear renewable technologies such as solar, wind and biogas, and how these renewable energy technologies affect the daily lives, economic activities, education, healthcare and environmental awareness of rural respondents. Methods: Data were collected using a structured questionnaire through one-on-one interviews, and captured information regarding household energy use, cost savings, productivity, and satisfaction with renewable systems. The study used descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and graphical interpretations of data to describe trends and relationships among variables. Results: It was found that 78% of these households sampled had access to some type of renewable energy, which overwhelmingly (>65%) was a retrofit of solar. A very high positive correlation (r = 0.67) was found between using renewable energy and increased household income. Also, moderate levels of association (r = 0.59) between renewable energy access and education outcomes for children were found. Conclusion: In aspects of rural access to energy through renewable energy, issues like uptake, cost of installation, and technical knowledge, there are overall success, as study participants indicated renewable energy is reliable environmental and an essential service for sustainable development into taller term rural area.

Keywords: Renewable energy, rural development, solar power, energy access, socio-economic impact, livelihood improvement

References

Abadi, N., Gebrehiwot, K., Techane, A., & Nerea, H. (2016). Links between biogas technology adoption and health status of households in rural Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Energy Policy, 101, 284–292. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2016.11.015

Akhurst, J. E., & Leach, M. M. (2023). Confidentiality, informed consent, and multiple relationships in four emerging regions. Ethics & Behavior, 33(3), 175–182. https://doi.org/10.1080/10508422.2022.2152339

Bhattacharyya, S. C. (2013). Financing energy access and off-grid electrification: A review of status, options and challenges. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 20, 462–472. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.12.008

Brent, A. C., & Rogers, D. E. (2009). Renewable rural electrification: Sustainability assessment of mini-hybrid off-grid technological systems in the African context. Renewable Energy, 35(1), 257–265. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2009.03.028

Caruso, G., Colantonio, E., & Gattone, S. A. (2020). Relationships between Renewable Energy Consumption, Social Factors, and Health: A Panel Vector Auto Regression Analysis of a Cluster of 12 EU Countries. Sustainability, 12(7), 2915. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12072915

Clausen, L. T., & Rudolph, D. (2020). Renewable energy for sustainable rural development: Synergies and mismatches. Energy Policy, 138, 111289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111289

Cook, P. (2011). Infrastructure, rural electrification and development. Energy Sustainable Development/Energy for Sustainable Development, 15(3), 304–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.esd.2011.07.008

Devabhaktuni, V., Alam, M., Depuru, S. S. S. R., Green, R. C., Nims, D., & Near, C. (2012). Solar energy: Trends and enabling technologies. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 19, 555–564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.11.024

Fadele, A. A., & Rocha, A. (2025). Quantitative research data preparation and cleaning process. In Studies in systems, decision and control (pp. 155–184). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-91431-7_6

Figus, G., Turner, K., McGregor, P., & Katris, A. (2017). Making the case for supporting broad energy efficiency programmes: Impacts on household incomes and other economic benefits. Energy Policy, 111, 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2017.09.028

Fuad, A., Tiara, A., Kusumasari, R. A., Rimawati, R., & Murhandarwati, E. E. H. (2023). Introducing a regulatory sandbox into the Indonesian health system using e-Malaria as a use case: Participatory Action Study. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25, e47706. https://doi.org/10.2196/47706

Glemarec, Y. (2012). Financing off-grid sustainable energy access for the poor. Energy Policy, 47, 87–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.032

Islam, R. M., Bell, R. J., Hossain, M. B., & Davis, S. R. (2014). Bangladesh Midlife Women’s Health Study (BMWHS): Methods, challenges and experiences. Maturitas, 80(1), 89–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.maturitas.2014.10.005

Jaber, J. O., Awad, W., Rahmeh, T. A., Alawin, A. A., Al-Lubani, S., Dalu, S. A., Dalabih, A., & Al-Bashir, A. (2017). Renewable energy education in faculties of engineering in Jordan: Relationship between demographics and level of knowledge of senior students’. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 73, 452–459. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.141

Jie, H., Khan, I., Alharthi, M., Zafar, M. W., & Saeed, A. (2023). Sustainable energy policy, socio-economic development, and ecological footprint: The economic significance of natural resources, population growth, and industrial development. Utilities Policy, 81, 101490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jup.2023.101490

Kaygusuz, K. (2011). Energy for sustainable development: A case of developing countries. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16(2), 1116–1126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2011.11.013

Kirubi, C., Jacobson, A., Kammen, D. M., & Mills, A. (2009). Community-Based Electric Micro-Grids Can Contribute to Rural Development: Evidence from Kenya. World Development, 37(7), 1208–1221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2008.11.005

Kramer, S., Amos, T., Lazarus, S., & Seedat, M. (2012). The philosophical assumptions, utility and challenges of asset mapping approaches to community engagement. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 22(4), 537–544. https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2012.10820565

Maja, P. W., Meyer, J., & Von Solms, S. (2022). Smart Rural Village’s Healthcare and Energy Indicators—Twin Enablers to Smart Rural Life. Sustainability, 14(19), 12466. https://doi.org/10.3390/su141912466

Mboumboue, E., & Njomo, D. (2016). Potential contribution of renewables to the improvement of living conditions of poor rural households in developing countries: Cameroon?s case study. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 61, 266–279. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.04.003

Mehmood, U., Agyekum, E. B., Tariq, S., Haq, Z. U., Uhunamure, S. E., Edokpayi, J. N., & Azhar, A. (2022). Socio-Economic Drivers of Renewable Energy: Empirical Evidence from BRICS. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(8), 4614. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19084614

Mitra, A. K. (2023). A Step-by-Step Guide to data analysis using SPSS: Iron Study data. In Springer eBooks (pp. 343–362). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-41784-9_20

Mohammed, Y., Mustafa, M., & Bashir, N. (2014). Hybrid renewable energy systems for off-grid electric power: Review of substantial issues. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 35, 527–539. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.04.022

Olatomiwa, L., Sadiq, A. A., Longe, O. M., Ambafi, J. G., Jack, K. E., Abd’azeez, T. A., & Adeniyi, S. (2022). An overview of energy access solutions for rural healthcare facilities. Energies, 15(24), 9554. https://doi.org/10.3390/en15249554

Rehman, A. U., Iqbal, S., Shafiq, A., Alshammari, N. F., Dar, S. H., & Iqbal, R. T. (2024). Multifaceted impacts of widespread renewable energy integration on socio-economic, ecological, and regional development. Sustainable Futures, 8, 100241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2024.100241

Rehman, I., Kar, A., Banerjee, M., Kumar, P., Shardul, M., Mohanty, J., & Hossain, I. (2012). Understanding the political economy and key drivers of energy access in addressing national energy access priorities and policies. Energy Policy, 47, 27–37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2012.03.043

Rumbayan, M., Kindangen, J., Sambul, A., Sompie, S., & Cross, J. (2025). Solar energy implementation in rural Communities and its Contributions to SDGs: A Systematic literature review. Unconventional Resources, 100180. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.uncres.2025.100180

Santos, H. T. M. D., & Balestieri, J. a. P. (2018). Spatial analysis of sustainable development goals: A correlation between socioeconomic variables and electricity use. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 97, 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2018.08.037

Tàbara, J. D., Lieu, J., Zaman, R., Ismail, C., & Takama, T. (2021). On the discovery and enactment of positive socio-ecological tipping points: insights from energy systems interventions in Bangladesh and Indonesia. Sustainability Science, 17(2), 565–571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-021-01050-6

Zahnd, A., & Kimber, H. M. (2008). Benefits from a renewable energy village electrification system. Renewable Energy, 34(2), 362–368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2008.05.011


View Dimensions


View Plumx


View Altmetric



0
Save
0
Citation
51
View
0
Share