Assessing the Consuption of Alternative Sources of Energy: A Detailed Analysis in Low and High Areas of Kabulonga and Chawama Townships of Lusaka City

Abstract

Providing sustainable energy access is one of the most critical global challenges. Both developed and developing nations depend on a variety of primary energy sources like coal, natural gas, biomass, oil and renewable energy to produce electricity. Following the power deficit that was experienced in Zambia between 2015 and 2017 the government has been doing everything possible to develop a diversified renewable energy sector that will play a pivotal role in the provision of alternative sources of energy in the country. However, the intensifying levels of load shedding forced domestic consumers to resort to alternative sources of energy such as; charcoal, generators and gas stoves. This paper assesses the consumption and sustainability of alternative energy sources in high and low density population areas in Lusaka and focusing on households. The study was done on a representative sample of Lusaka from two areas namely Kabulonga, and Chawama representing low and high density respectively. Data was obtained through administering questionnaires to household heads. Results showed that energy consumption behaviour of households varies from one region to another and not all factors are equally important in determining energy consumption in different areas and regions. It was also revealed that the energy consumption decision is affected by economic factors such as market price of fuel, household income, household expenditures and noneconomic factors which include; a set of household characteristics such as household size, gender, education, house ownership, type of dwelling, location of residence, household age, distance to fuel source, and access to electricity. The results showed that 36% respondents in Kabulonga use electricity against 31.1% in Chawama, 29% use gas in Kabulonga against 26% in Chawama. It was noted that more respondents in Chawama use solar at 8.9% against 2% in Kabulonga and also that those that use charcoal in Chawama were 26.7% more than the Charcoal users in Kabulonga at 11%. While the government of Zambia is working on resolving power challenges that the country recently faced, building more hydropower stations has remained their focus. These major hydropower developments will not likely solve the power deficit or climate change effects being experienced such as low water levels due to droughts.