The buzz around decentralized renewable energy has so far mostly been in East Africa and South Asia, i.e. high-flying Kenya and massive India and Bangladesh. 2017 will see growth of decentralized energy into new frontiers. And thanks to Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll), we now have a clearer picture of where the biggest opportunities for renewable energy to close the access gap are. The SEforAll “Heat Maps” identify the countries where the electricity deficit is highest, as well as the countries of high-impact for renewables penetration. If you overlay those, factor in which national governments are embracing decentralized renewables, then account for countries where finance and businesses are ready to scale, we have a pretty solid idea of what’s coming in terms of potential “new wins” for the sector in 2017, including:high-flying Kenya and massive India and Bangladesh. …India, Myanmar appears to be the darling amongst private foundations, development banks and donors for making a dent in Asian energy poverty… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/frontier-markets-islands-eagles-states
India is one of the largest consumers of kerosene on an absolute and per capita basis. Because there are no accessible, affordable and established sustainable alternatives, poor rural households — especially in remote rural areas — continue to use kerosene as their primary lighting fuel despite the well-recorded health hazards. But this is changing, according to new policy analysis by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).India is one of the largest consumers of kerosene on an absolute and per capita basis. …India… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/billions-savings-kerosene-subsidy-cuts-should-go-distributed-solar-iisd
The Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) presents updates on key state-level initiatives to improve energy access in India …India September 2017 Updates The administration of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has made universal access to continuous and reliable electricity a central pillar of its development efforts… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/indian-states-energy-access-digest
Mohit Anand of TFE Consulting discusses the challenges of accessing capital for decentralized renewable energy in India, and suggests securitization as a path forward …India, and suggests securitization as a path forward With less than 1% of solar PV financing in India invested in the off-grid segment, it has a very small share of the total market… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/grid-solar-financing-failing-india
Most international focus on electricity poverty is understandably on remote, rural communities, where 900 million people live without power. But as Pollinate Energy just proved in India, cities also face similar challenges. Pollinate, which distributes solar and other life-changing products to vulnerable urban migrants, just announced surpassing its 100,000 customer.But as Pollinate Energy just proved in India, cities also face similar challenges… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/policy/100000-reasons-not-forget-urban-rural-connection-sdg7
How to educate last mile consumers in India about new technologies? Visit 9,000 villages and engage over 200,000 people. …India about new technologies? Visit 9,000 villages and engage over 200,000 people. …India’s rural population exposed to television and radio, the IFC's Lighting Asia team in India realized that they would need to take a creative approach to raising awareness about decentralized solar products… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/interviews/conversation-praveen-kumar
Johannes Urpelainen, director of the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP), reports from the front lines on India’s ambitious energy access plan and the challenges to implementation on the ground …India’s ambitious energy access plan and the challenges to implementation on the ground… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/can-saubhagya-succeed-prospects-universal-electrification-uttar-pradesh
Jaipur-based Frontier Markets is pursuing a energy revolution in rural India through the power of women. The start-up is expecting to more than double to 500,000 the number of households it reaches with distributed renewable power solutions this year. …India through the power of women… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/indian-women-scaling-distributed-power-100000s-rural-households
Husk Power Systems, an early pioneer in developing micro-grids for poor, rural communities in India and sub-Saharan Africa, plans a 7-fold increase in its power plants to 600 within 5 years, expanding into a fully-fledged rural utility that delivers reliable 24/7 grid-compatible power and better customer service than incumbent utilities. …India and sub-Saharan Africa, plans a 7-fold increase in its power plants to 600 within 5 years, expanding into a fully-fledged rural utility that delivers reliable 24/7 grid-compatible power and better customer service than incumbent utilities… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/impact/virtually-battery-free-100-renewable
India’s government has made transparency a centerpiece of its rural electrification campaign, called Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY). A new update summarizing the status of India’s overall energy reform program (called 24x7 Power for All, or Ujwal Bharat) was recently issued, reporting that 73% of villages have been electrified under DDUGJY as of May 19, 2017.India’s government has made transparency a centerpiece of its rural electrification campaign, called Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY)… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/impact/new-report-progress-24x7-power-all