Pathways to advancing universal access to clean energy: Evidence from a household survey in urban Accra, Ghana

This study examines pathways to achieving universal access to clean energy in an urban, developing economy with mixed informal and formal settlements. Using data from Ghana, the study reveals that income, age, gender of household heads, and dwelling type have a significant influence on clean energy adoption. Contrary to traditional “energy ladder” or “energy stacking” models, the study finds that multiple energy use is prevalent among the sampled households. The paper finds a growing consciousness about energy efficiency among the sampled households, even with their unique setting. We find pronounced gender disparities in energy use patterns, with female-headed households less likely to adopt advanced commercial energy, emphasizing a critical role of women's empowerment in facilitating energy transitions. The findings generally suggest that policymakers must carefully integrate public demand management strategies with household preferences to enhance policy effectiveness. The paper has shown that there is a need to adopt more flexible and targeted energy access options to advance universal access to clean energy, particularly in developing countries. These insights are crucial for advancing sustainable development goals and improving energy equity.