Abstract
The electric situation in Ethiopia is still very centralized to its capital city. Only 4.8% of the rural population had access to modern energy source. This shows that greater than 95% of the rural population in Ethiopian still live without electricity. This situation was also worsted in the research study area. The objective of this study was to evaluate solar and biogas utilization as household energy source in Yem special district.
The research was designed by descriptive survey research design. A total of 232 out of which 210 randomly selected and 22 purposively selected biogas users were included in the present investigation. The data was collected through structural questioner and focused group discussion and analyzed by use of SPSS version 20 software. The data was analyzed by using descriptive statics, existing situation were interpreted by using frequency, percent and presented by using table and figures. Based on the finding of the research. The awareness of the household head has positive effect on utilization of renewable energy source (solar and biogas) and adverse effect of kerosene and firewood. Lack of awareness, quality of renewable energy source, maintenance and shortage of accessory are major utilization constraints in the district. In this research, those awarded and owner of solar/bio householders have improved their livelihood condition and they got different social and economic benefits. The social benefits were educational benefit, healthy benefits, and working time in the evening and economic benefit to save money, solar and biogas are substitutes kerosene value and provided suitable environment for small income generating activists like mobile charging in the study area. From the present finding it is concluded that, utilization of solar and biogas provided economic growth, quality of education, health benefit, and access to information for the rural community of Yem. And it solve households energy problem in the house.
Keywords: Renewable energy source, solar and biogas energy utilization