中文摘要
低收入国家的政府正日益将离网供电纳入国家电气化战略，从而形成新型分散式电力市场。我研究了一种在能源可及性方面发挥着日益重要作用的高度分散式产品：即用即付（PAYGo）太阳能家庭系统。与电网电气化不同，PAYGo太阳能的前期接入价格较低，但使用价格相对较高。集约边际上的高价格在多大程度上限制了太阳能家庭系统的采用？2019年，多哥政府实施了一项大规模补贴，将使用价格降低17.8%–41.7%，而采用该系统的前期价格保持不变。我估计，该补贴大幅提高了采用率，其中对最小型系统的影响最大（提高240%）。随后，我构建了一个简化模型，表明由于分散式太阳能电力具有独特的成本结构，此类补贴的效果并不确定。我的研究结果凸显了使用价格对低收入家庭电气化决策的重要性。
Abstract
Governments in low-income countries are increasingly integrating off-grid electricity provision into national electrification strategies, creating novel, decentralized markets for electricity. I study a highly decentralized product that plays an increasingly important role in energy access: pay as you go (PAYGo) solar home systems. Unlike grid electrification, PAYGo solar features low upfront connection prices but relatively high usage prices. To what extent are high intensive margin prices limiting the adoption of solar home systems? In 2019, the Togolese government implemented a large subsidy reducing usage prices by 17.8%–41.7%, while the upfront price of adoption remained constant. I estimate that the subsidy dramatically increased adoption, with the largest effects occurring for the smallest systems (240% increase). I go on to develop a stylized model that shows that the effects of such subsidies are uncertain due to the unique cost structure of decentralized solar electricity. My results highlight the importance of use prices in the electrification decisions of low-income households.