From Firewood To Photovoltaics: Household Energy Transition And Environmental Change In Pathanamthitta District, Kerala

Abstract Energy transitions have historically shaped the relationship between society, economy, technology, and the environment. In Kerala, household energy consumption has undergone a substantial transformation during the last seven decades, moving from dependence on traditional biomass resources such as firewood and agricultural residues towards electricity, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), and renewable energy technologies. This transition was not simply a technological process but a broader socio-environmental transformation influenced by economic development, migration, changing lifestyles, public policy, technological accessibility, and growing environmental awareness. This paper examines the historical evolution of household energy consumption in Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, from an environmental history perspective. Using a historical-analytical approach and secondary sources including Census reports, Government of Kerala publications, Economic Reviews, renewable energy policy documents, reports of the Agency for New and Renewable Energy Research and Technology (ANERT), and relevant scholarly literature, the study traces four broad phases: the Biomass Era (1950–1980), the Electrification Era (1980–2000), the Clean Fuel Transition Era (2000–2015), and the Renewable Energy Era (2015–2025). Particular attention is given to the influence of rural electrification, Gulf migration, rising household incomes, LPG diffusion, government intervention, and the emergence of rooftop solar photovoltaic systems. The study argues that Pathanamthitta's household energy transition was neither linear nor uniform. Rather, successive energy systems overlapped, with households often combining traditional and modern sources. The transition from firewood to electricity and LPG altered domestic labour, household convenience, and indoor environmental conditions, while the emergence of solar energy introduced a new relationship in which households could participate directly in energy production. The experience of Pathanamthitta demonstrates how energy transitions can be understood as historical transformations in human-environment relationships and provides insights into the opportunities and challenges associated with sustainable household energy systems.