The optimism that the world will be heading for 100% renewable energy has recently heightened within academia and policymakers. This paper interrogates the prevailing energy patterns in Lesotho, where households depend on multiple energy sources, combining renewables and non-renewables. While there is increased access to grid electricity and solar technologies, the data reveals a persistent reliance on biomass, paraffin, coal, and liquefied petroleum gas. Drawing on qualitative fieldwork, the study demonstrates that the current trend is not merely transitional but is shaped by distinct socio-economic and infrastructural realities. Three key factors underpin the continued preference for energy combinations. First, renewable energy penetration in rural areas remains limited. Second, affordability concerns, particularly the cost of connection and usage, severely constrain households. Third, precautionary behaviours in response to unreliable electricity supply and the perceived inefficiency of some renewable technologies push households to keep alternative sources on standby. Efforts to abandon fossil-based energy use will remain aspirational unless energy transitions account for these patterns and the reasons behind them. Meaningful progress towards sustainable energy in Lesotho requires a deliberate shift in how communities are engaged. Strategies must move beyond top-down electrification, but instead emphasise local knowledge and user priorities, which are key.

This study explores the barriers and drivers influencing energy source adoption in rural Lesotho, focusing on the villages of Machaping and Mohlanapeng. Employing Rational Choice Theory and Collective Action Theory, it examines how economic constraints, health risks, environmental concerns and infrastructural limitations shape energy preferences. In Machaping, where electricity is scarce, people mostly depend on traditional energy sources like cow dung, paraffin, and firewood. These fuels are affordable and easy to find. While there’s a strong wish for cleaner energy options, they are often out of reach, which means the community continues to rely on these harmful and unsustainable fuels. This reliance on traditional energy sources heightens health risks and contributes to environmental issues such as deforestation and soil erosion. In contrast, Mohlanapeng, which has been electrified since 2016, showcases the notable advantages of being connected to the grid, including improved cooking methods, better lighting, and enhanced safety. However, high electricity prices, a lack of funds for appliances, and frequent power outages force many residents to rely on traditional fuels as a supplement. This dual dependence highlights the ongoing challenges of achieving a complete energy transition, even in areas that are electrified. This research emphasises the need for specific policy actions, inclusive community involvement, and the development of sustainable infrastructure to overcome these hurdles and ensure equitable access to cleaner energy. This study offers practical insights to facilitate effective energy transitions and enhance livelihoods in Lesotho by providing a comprehensive view of rural energy dynamics.

Increasing energy access is recognized as a priority contribution to development. Innovative approaches to providing energy access have been successfully tried, and business models for the dissemination of decentralized renewable energies could be ready for large-scale replication. The decrease in the cost of some renewable energy technologies, the arrival of new technologies like LEDs, and the widespread use of mobile phones—which are used for micro-banking in developing countries—are drastically reducing the cost of access to basic energy services. Electrification seems to be entering a new era of massive diffusion of basic systems like solar lanterns. Mini-grids with hybrid generation can supply remote villages in a cost-effective way. But the quality control and the maintenance of these systems are still an issue for the long-term sustainability of these markets.