About

The University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources conducted a quasi-experimental impact evaluation study in rural Malawi to evaluate the impacts of solar home system (SHS) devices for households.

Specifically, this study aimed to 1) assess the impact of solar home systems on the livelihoods of rural households in Lilongwe District, Malawi; and 2) To understand the determinants of adoption and dis-adoption of SHS in this setting.

This study was conducted in partnership with VITALITE Malawi.

A respondent being interviewed
VITALITE solar home system
Solar home system in a respondent’s home

Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Dai, C., McCord, R., Beach, K. B., Mahieu, A., Chilongo, T., Jumbe, C., & Jagger, P. (2026). Unlocking financial inclusion through solar technology adoption in Malawi. Energy Economics154, 109138. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2026.109138

Mahieu, A., McCord, R., Beach, K. B., Dai, C., Chilongo, T., Jumbe, C., & Jagger, P. (2025). Can off-grid household solar provide sustainable energy for all? Adoption and sustained use of solar technologies in Malawi. Energy Research & Social Science127, 104249. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2025.104249

Briefs & Reports