Rural photovoltaic energy: government strategies and barriers to access
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5902/1983465993931Keywords:
Photovoltaic energy, Solar energy, Public policies, Rural areasAbstract
Purpose: This study sought, through a systematic review of the literature, to identify the government strategies used to enable photovoltaic energy in rural areas and to analyze the main challenges faced by the rural population in accessing photovoltaic systems.
Methodology: This research is based on a systematic review of the literature in accordance with the PRISMA/2020 protocol. Twenty publications were selected from the Scopus and Web of Science databases. These articles were analyzed to identify the main government strategies employed and the challenges faced by rural populations in adopting photovoltaic systems. The final version of this manuscript was translated into English using the DeepL artificial intelligence tool.
Results: The analysis of the articles revealed five government strategies to enable rural photovoltaic energy: (a) economic incentives; (b) rural electrification policies; (c) socioeconomic development strategies; (d) educational strategies; and (e) international awareness and support. As for challenges, four limiting factors were identified for the implementation of photovoltaic energy in rural areas: (a) economic viability; (b) technological barriers; (c) specific public policies; and (d) access to electricity networks.
Originally: This study reveals that active participation by the state is essential for photovoltaic energy to become established in rural areas. The results of this systematic review enrich the theoretical and empirical field on the subject and propose a model to guide public policy makers in the process of adopting photovoltaic energy in rural contexts. It also reveals gaps that should be considered by policymakers involved in rural electrification.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Luiz Henrique Botelho, Leonardo Francisco Figueiredo Neto, Márcia Maria dos Santos Bortolocci Espejo
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