Renewable Energy (Solar) and its Impact on Rural Households’ Welfare (Case Study of Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan)

Energy is a pre-requisite for economic development of a nation. Particularly least developed countries that are not financially able to electrify density populated rural areas tend to solve this problem through solar energy. Due to CO2 emissive and cost effectiveness characteristic of renewable energy, it attracted the global climate change debates attention. This study analysed the impact of solar energy on rural households' welfare. The primary data gathered through questionnaire from 200 households in Fayzabad city of Badakhshan province, Afghanistan using random sampling approach. Regression analyses measured welfare through education, health, income and environment. The results showed, that studying hour as an indicator of education remained the same as before at night shift like the nights they used bulbs, local generator electricity or kerosene for lightening purposes, furthermore it was found, households' health status somehow bettered in terms of less hospital visits in a month and their saving increased while using solar power than before paid higher amount for per kilowatt local generator electricity. Energy production via solar panels are not that much full accessible in high capacity to avoid families from destroying environment by collecting wood and fuel for cooking and heating purposes. The research recommends, government should pay more attention to support rural households through further investment on SHS(Solar Household System). And this could easily provide at least primary need of demanders like lightening, heating and coaling purposes.