African Journal of GIS and Spatial Analysis (Environmental/Earth Science | 10 November 2000
Methodological Evaluation of Off-Grid Communities Systems in Ghana Using Quasi-Experimental Design to Assess System Reliability
K, w, e, s, i, D, a, r, k, o, ,, Y, a, h, a, y, a, A, g, y, e, m, a, n, ,, Y, a, w, A, s, a, r, e, ,, A, m, e, y, a, w, A, g, g, r, e, y
Abstract
Off-grid communities in Ghana face challenges in accessing reliable energy sources, necessitating robust system designs to ensure continuous power supply. A mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data analysis with qualitative interviews was employed. The quasi-experimental design involved comparing pre- and post-system implementation data to assess changes in energy availability, reliability, and user satisfaction. The analysis revealed a significant increase (p<0.05) of 20% in system uptime after the deployment of solar-powered systems compared to baseline conditions. This study contributes new insights into understanding factors influencing off-grid community energy reliability, particularly in Ghanaian contexts. Further research should explore long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness of these systems for wider implementation. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.