Abstract
In Ethiopia, heavy dependency on biomass energy sources creates deforestation, land degradation, soil erosion, and climate change and energy poverty. Household fuel and fuel saving technology assessment plays a key role in the evaluation of the energy access modalities and socio-economic features that may influence the household fuel and fuel saving technology choice. This study was aimed to investigate the household fuel and fuel saving technology choice determinants in Hawassa city, SNNPRG, Ethiopia. Multivariate probit model analysis was employed to assess the fuel choice determinants in the households.
Three biomass stoves were tested using controlled cooking test. Household fuel choice determinants such as family size, household head’s age, education, occupation, and dwelling type, income level and separate kitchen utilization were evaluated. The model examines choices between a set of cooking and baking fuel such as firewood, charcoal and electricity. The result confirmed that income level (P < 0.01) and household head year of formal education (P<0.05) were main factors in choosing fuels. Result of baking test shows statistically significant (p<0.05) variation between three stone and Yequme Mideja specific fuel consumption, total baking time and average baking power. About 47.70% specific fuel consumption, 26.30% total baking time and 30.19% average baking power were reduced compared to three stone to Yequme Mideja, which is significantly(p<0.05) higher than that of three stone to Mirt (best) stove 39.95% specific fuel consumption, 17.3%total baking time and 26.59% average baking power were reduced between three stone and Mirt stove. The test result showed that there was no statistically significant (p<0.05) difference in three measured parameters between mirt and Yequme Mideja. The study concluded that use of Stand or Mirt stove per household reduces firewood consumption for baking and reduces deforestation rate over the three stone stove. The contribution of clean fuel and improved cookstove to reduction of environmental and economic problem and workload can be improved by increasing penetration level of clean fuel and improved cookstove. This indicates that further design improvement of improve baking stove and awareness rise will be needed.
Key words: - fuel choice, household, specific fuel consumption, total baking time, average baking power
