Investigating the Causes of Low Usage of Solar Energy Sources in Zambia. The Case Study of Lusaka Township

The study examined the causes of Low Usage of Solar Energy Sources in Zambias Lusaka area. This research was based on three key objectives: To access the awareness levels on the use of solar energy among households and SMEs in Lusaka; to establish the perceived challenges about the use of solar energy among households and SMEs and to investigate the adequacy level of the national grid power supply among households and SMEs. This research employs a purposive sampling, targeting the 50 households and 50 SMEs. Megastat was used to analyze the data. Conclusion: The study reveals that the mean score for "awareness levels on the use of solar energy has proved that familiarity about solar energy and its benefits" is 1.480, which is significantly lower than the hypothesis, the hypothesized value of 3.000. With a p-value of 0.000. From the second objective the hypothesis test (95% CI, Df = 98, p-value = 1.000) confirms this relationship, indicating a statistically significant association between the perceived challenges and the actual responses. Since the p-value (1.000) is less than the typical significance level (1.7180), we reject the null hypothesis, suggesting that the perceived challenge on the use of solar energy is dependent on the reliability of solar energy. This implies that the use of solar energy had been effective because of solar energy reliability, and respondents' perceptions align with the actual outcomes. The third objective hypothesis test shows the mean of 2.060, which is not significantly higher than the hypothesized value of 3.000. With a p-value of 0.000 (less than 0.05), we reject the null hypothesis, indicating that the hydro-electricity power supply is not adequate. Recommendations: Households and SMEs should invest in solar energy, government should raise awareness: Government support is needed to make sensitization on solar energy and its benefits through workshops, schemes that can allow people purchase solar Pannels, subsidies on solar equipment: subsidies can help a lot of Households and SMEs afford solar equipment’s to install solar. Training: literacy on solar energy will improve solar adoption among Households and SMEs. By implementing these recommendations, Households and SMEs in Lusaka township will adopt solar energy, Solar energy adoption offers significant financial, environmental, and social benefits for both small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and households which include substantial cost savings, enhanced energy independence, and a reduced carbon footprint.