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Solar water heaters are an important renewable-energy technology for supporting household energy resilience and the energy transition in rural municipalities in South Africa. This study examines household experiences with solar water heaters in Thulamela Local Municipality, South Africa, using Diffusion of Innovations theory to understand the perceived benefits, challenges, and conditions that influence continued use following installation. Guided by an interpretivist paradigm, the study adopted a qualitative exploratory case study design. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 16 purposively selected household participants and were analysed thematically using ATLAS.ti. Participants perceived solar water heaters as providing important household benefits, particularly reduced reliance on conventional electric water heating, reduced electricity expenditure, and access to hot water during electricity interruptions. However, high upfront costs, weather-dependent performance, limited technical support, inadequate public awareness, and restricted financial assistance emerged as important constraints on access, user experience, and continued use. The findings indicate that household experiences with solar water heaters are shaped by the interaction of perceived relative advantage, affordability, reliability, technical support, user knowledge, social learning, and institutional conditions. The study contributes context-specific qualitative insights suggesting that household renewable-energy interventions in rural municipalities may benefit from combining technology provision with financial accessibility, user education, reliable maintenance services, and coordinated institutional support.  

Off-grid solar home systems have become a central element of energy access strategies in East Africa, particularly in Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania, where pay-as-you-go models have expanded rapidly. This paper examines how household adoption of solar home systems affects welfare and education outcomes, using nationally representative surveys, regional solar irradiance data, and education indicators from UNESCO. The analysis applies an instrumental-variable strategy that exploits exogenous variation in solar irradiance to address adoption endogeneity. Results show that higher irradiance significantly increases the likelihood of adopting solar home systems, which in turn reduces kerosene expenditures, improves lighting quality, and supports longer study hours for children. Welfare gains are evident through higher household savings, improved perceptions of wellbeing, and reduced energy insecurity. Education outcomes benefit through increased evening study time and reduced school absenteeism during rainy months, when grid reliability declines. These findings align with emerging evidence from East Africa that off-grid solar can strengthen inclusive energy transitions and contribute to human development when supported by favourable financing models, consumer protection, and long-term system maintenance pathways. The results offer policy guidance for regional initiatives aiming to expand sustainable, affordable, and reliable household energy access.