SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION PATTERN OF OFF-GRID SOLAR ENERGY INTERVENTION IN THE FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY

Abstract

The spatial distribution pattern of off-grid solar energy interventions in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nigeria, reflects critical dynamics in the pursuit of energy access and sustainable development. This study investigates the geographic allocation, concentration and socioeconomic impacts of off-grid solar intervention, including solar mini-grid, solar home system, solar lanterns and street lighting, across the six Area Councils of the FCT. Using a combination of geospatial analysis, that is, a non-parametric approach using the Kernel Density Estimation (KDE). Also, solar energy data was collected through a questionnaire from about 335 respondents who are users of solar energy interventions across the FCT. The research identifies spatial disparities and clustering tendencies in the deployment of solar energy infrastructure. The findings revealed that while some urban and peri-urban areas benefit from significant solar interventions, many rural communities remain underserved, highlighting gaps in planning and the socio-economic strength of the region. The outcomes showed that i) more solar energy users were identified in the AMAC region and the lowest in Kuje AC; ii) solar energy interventions were significantly clustered among energy users at statistical significant value (p-value) of 0.01 and which implies that solar energy interventions were representative and have met their energy demand; iii) most of the Area Councils received an average of about 11 – 15 hours of solar electricity indicating a high levels of socio-economic benefits; iv) the AMAC region claimed to experience more socio-economic benefits among other Area Councils. The study underscores the need for a more inclusive and data-driven approach to solar energy interventions to ensure equitable access and alignment with national electrification goals.