Public Awareness and Social Acceptance of Solar Energy as a Strategy for Reducing Energy Poverty in Tanzania

Abstract

This study investigates public awareness and social acceptance of solar energy as a strategy for reducing energy poverty in Tanzania, focusing on households, micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), and health and education facilities. Guided by a positivist philosophy and a deductive approach, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 384 respondents. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, cross-tabulations, Pearson correlations, multiple regression, and moderation analysis. The findings show that general awareness of solar energy is relatively high, yet practical knowledge on maintenance and financing remains limited. Awareness and acceptance vary significantly by stakeholder group, with higher levels among institutional users and MSMEs than households. Mass media is the dominant information source but exhibits the lowest conversion from awareness to adoption, while community engagement, peer referrals, and formal training achieve higher conversion rates. Regression results indicate that social acceptance, service availability, and financing options are the strongest predictors of sustained solar energy use, jointly explaining 64% of the variance. Moderation analysis reveals that reliable after-sales services and flexible financing significantly strengthen the link between awareness and sustained use, while genderinclusive decision-making enhances acceptance and continuity at the household level. Longitudinal perceptions among adopters indicate improving attitudes over time when systems perform reliably and maintenance support is accessible. The study concludes that solar energy can meaningfully reduce energy poverty in Tanzania when deployed through peoplecentred, service-enabled, and gender-responsive approaches. Policy implications emphasise practical energy literacy, community-based outreach, strengthened service ecosystems, inclusive financing mechanisms, and monitoring frameworks that prioritise sustained use over installations.