Determinants for adoption and non-adoption of clean energy alternatives in low-income households: the case of South Africa

This paper aims to investigate the factors influencing the adoption or non-adoption of clean energy and improved cookstoves (ICS) in South African low-income households. The paper adopted a systematic analysis of local literature (n=26) and makes a comparison to studies elsewhere. The findings revealed that consumer propensity to invest in clean fuels and technologies is influenced by household characteristics and preferences, device characteristics and performance, social and cultural influences, the awareness of the risks of using traditional fuels or stoves and benefits of ICS and clean fuels, affordability, availability, accessibility and supply chain of the fuel or promoted clean cookstove or technology. This review contributes to the synthesis and understanding of those factors that impact clean energy and technology consumption in modern South Africa. The understanding of these factors can support the implementation of effective clean energy intervention programmes and map the future of these in the country. The paper suggests that increasing the safety awareness campaigns of traditional stoves and the benefits of ICS, together with increasing access to and making clean fuels, ICS and other energy technologies affordable could significantly lead to widespread diffusion of these.