Assessing household water heating practices in West Africa: Survey insights from Ouagadougou and Lomé

Hot water provision in West African households remains heavily dependent on polluting biomass and fossil fuels, exacerbating environmental degradation and health challenges. This study presents the first large-scale comparative analysis of water heating practices and the potential for solar water heater (SWH) adoption in two major cities with contrasting policy environments: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, and Lomé, Togo. A comprehensive survey of 1011 households in Ouagadougou and 765 in Lomé was conducted via face-to-face interviews. Results reveal stark divergences driven primarily by policy. In Ouagadougou, substantial LPG subsidies and SWH promotion have led to LPG being the dominant energy source (70 % of households) and a relatively high SWH adoption rate (9 %). In contrast, Lomé’s lack of incentives results in heavy reliance on charcoal (62 %) and a very low SWH adoption rate (0.4 %), despite a high expressed willingness to adopt (84 %). Bivariate analysis reveals that willingness to adopt is strongly associated with higher education levels and the use of modern energy sources. While economic savings and convenience are the primary motivators, environmental concerns play a secondary, though significant, role when prompted. Despite high user satisfaction (80 %), technical failures—particularly float malfunctions affecting 30 % of systems—and high upfront costs remain critical barriers. The findings underscore that targeted policy interventions are the primary catalyst for shifting household energy practices. We conclude that promoting SWHs in West Africa requires financial mechanisms to overcome initial costs, stringent quality assurance to ensure reliability, and awareness campaigns that bundle economic, practical, and environmental benefits. • First large-scale survey (n > 1700) of urban water heating in two West Africa climates. • A 20-fold SWH adoption gap (9 % in Ouaga vs 0.4 % in Lomé) highlights policy’s role. • High satisfaction (80 %) among SWH users, despite technical failures and cost barriers. • Regional quality standards could help revitalize the local SWH manufacturing industry. • Sustainable policies boost SWH adoption (9 %) and LPG use (70 %) in Ouagadougou vs Lomé.