eprintid: 10189491
rev_number: 7
eprint_status: archive
userid: 699
dir: disk0/10/18/94/91
datestamp: 2024-03-21 14:56:42
lastmod: 2024-03-21 14:56:42
status_changed: 2024-03-21 14:56:42
type: article
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 699
creators_name: Perros, T
creators_name: Tomei, J
creators_name: Parikh, P
title: Stakeholder perspectives on the future of clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa and the role of pay-as-you-go LPG in expanding access
ispublished: pub
divisions: UCL
divisions: B04
divisions: C04
divisions: F34
keywords: Pay-as-you-go; Liquefied petroleum gas; 
Energy access; Clean cooking; 
Sub-Saharan Africa; Electric cooking; 
Energy transition; PAYG; LPG
note: Crown Copyright © 2024 Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
abstract: Reliance on polluting cooking fuels is linked to three million premature deaths per year as well as other climatic, environmental and social impacts. Numerous clean cooking fuels are available but remain inaccessible to low-income consumers due to affordability limitations. An emerging solution targeting the urban poor is pay-as-you-go (PAYG) liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which allows gas to be purchased in micropayments. However, little is known about whether this technology can scale and foster widespread adoption of clean cooking.

This study examines the state of the clean cooking market in sub-Saharan Africa and the role of PAYG LPG through semi-structured interviews conducted with n = 20 key informants including academics, donors and practitioners. The findings revealed perceptions of slow progress and tensions around the roles of LPG and electricity in the fuel mix. However, there was broad consensus that LPG will play some role in the transition in the short term.

Respondents also revealed the multitude of challenges faced by PAYG LPG providers attempting to scale this technology at a time of increasing controversy about the role of fossil fuels in Africa's energy transition. Nevertheless, participants described how PAYG LPG is an effective demand-side technology that makes clean cooking accessible to new consumers. Data collected by the meters offers opportunities to monetise impacts and target interventions at specific consumer groups. However, the unit economics are challenging and are compounded by a paucity of investment. Further research, dialogue and open debate between stakeholders is required to create a coherent enabling environment for PAYG LPG.
date: 2024-06
date_type: published
official_url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103494
oa_status: green
full_text_type: pub
language: eng
primo: open
primo_central: open_green
verified: verified_manual
elements_id: 2260700
doi: 10.1016/j.erss.2024.103494
lyricists_name: Parikh, Priti
lyricists_name: Tomei, Julia
lyricists_id: PPARI97
lyricists_id: JMTOM44
actors_name: Flynn, Bernadette
actors_id: BFFLY94
actors_role: owner
full_text_status: public
publication: Energy Research & Social Science
volume: 112
article_number: 103494
issn: 2214-6296
citation:        Perros, T;    Tomei, J;    Parikh, P;      (2024)    Stakeholder perspectives on the future of clean cooking in sub-Saharan Africa and the role of pay-as-you-go LPG in expanding access.                   Energy Research & Social Science , 112     , Article 103494.  10.1016/j.erss.2024.103494 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2024.103494>.       Green open access   
 
document_url: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10189491/1/1-s2.0-S2214629624000859-main.pdf