Assessing Off-Grid Solar Microgrids for Energy Access in Northern Ghanaian Communities

Off-grid solar microgrids have emerged as a promising solution for enhancing energy access in remote communities, particularly in Africa where traditional grid infrastructure is often inadequate or non-existent. The research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative data from household surveys with qualitative interviews to assess operational efficiency and community acceptance. A significant proportion (75%) of households reported improved daily activities due to the availability of electricity from off-grid solar microgrids. Technical performance metrics showed an average energy yield per unit of investment exceeding $0.50 per watt-hour, with robust standard errors indicating high reliability. Off-grid solar microgrids demonstrate potential as a scalable and cost-effective solution for enhancing energy access in Northern Ghanaian communities, warranting further deployment and policy support. Communities should be encouraged to adopt off-grid solar solutions through targeted educational programmes and financial incentives. Governments can facilitate this by providing subsidies and regulatory frameworks that promote sustainable energy use. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin_{\theta}\sum_i\ell(y_i,f_\theta(x_i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert_2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.