Harihara Mohapatra, COO of The CLEAN Network, spoke with Power for All about the state of the sector in India, and what’s needed to scale decentralized renewable energy. …India's leading trade group working to support, unify and grow the decentralized clean energy sector, with a focus on improving energy access for the rural and urban poor… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/interviews/conversation-harihara-mohapatra-clean-network
In 2017, the African Development Bank (AfDB) will hold its annual meeting in India for the first time. The AfDB has targeted 75 million decentralized renewable connections in its plan to achieve universal energy access by 2025, while India has its sights on 40 GW of rooftop solar and 10,000 mini-grids in its bid to achieve “24/7 Power for All” by 2019. Imagine the learnings that the two have to share. Next year, also sees the International Solar Alliance (ISA) hit its stride, bringing together 20+ countries with a major focus on energy access through decentralized solutions, and opportunities for cross-learning are bolstered further under the Paris climate agreement plans for regional partnerships and technology transfer—a key to the low carbon transition. …India for the first time. …India has its sights on 40 GW of rooftop solar and 10,000 mini-grids in its bid to achieve “24/7 Power for All” by 2019… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/africa/x-learning-2017-game-changer
The deal is the largest equity investment realized to date by a mini-grid company. India-based Husk will use the funds to expand its business in India and Tanzania to 300 mini-grids, serving over 100,000 customers, according to company CEO Manoj Sinha.India-based Husk will use the funds to expand its business in India and Tanzania to 300 mini-grids, serving over 100,000 customers, according to company CEO Manoj Sinha… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/husk-power-nets-20-million-shell-engie-swedfund-scale-mini-grids
In late August, Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, was devastated by flooding that affected millions of people and severely challenged authorities working to support the rural communities hit hardest. With uncertainty about the availability of grid power, renewable energy mini-grids stepped up to ensure adequate back-up power and played a key role in assisting with relief operations. …India, was devastated by flooding that affected millions of people and severely challenged authorities working to support the rural communities hit hardest… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/impact/mini-grids-deliver-india-floods
A growing movement of companies and civil society groups is helping women in rural India become solar entrepreneurs and improve their livelihoods. Now the key is scale. …India become solar entrepreneurs and improve their livelihoods. …India of distributed renewables (solar lighting, home solar systems or mini-grids) is the impact on women… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/stage-set-women-lead-solar-powered-gender-revolution-rural-india
Bihar state, one of India’s most electricity poor, announced a new five-year renewable energy policy that targets 3 GW of solar capacity, including 1 GW of rooftop solar and 100 MW of green mini-grids. …India’s most electricity poor, announced a new five-year renewable energy policy that targets 3 GW of solar capacity, including 1 GW of rooftop solar and 100 MW of green mini-grids… https://www.powerforall.org/countries/india/bihar-sets-growth-target-solar-mini-grid
India has roughly 300 million people without access to electricity, and Nigeria about 100 million. Together, the countries account for some 40% of the world’s total unelectrified population, and that percentage is even higher if you just include rural inhabitants. But the countries are proactively working to address the problem, and both have put forward federal mini-grid policies that offer huge potential for scale. The policies define what a mini-grid is, simplify permitting and perhaps most importantly resolve what happens if/when the grid arrives to an area where a mini-grid has been established. The policies are a critical market signal, offering policy certainty that is still needed across much of Sub-Saharan Africa and the rest of South Asia. Our sector stakeholders -- governments, developers, civil society groups, financiers -- have much to learn and emulate. For policy-makers with vision, mini-grids can help achieve the SDGs in a more reliable, clean and affordable manner.India has roughly 300 million people without access to electricity, and Nigeria about 100 million. INDIA Definition: 10kW to 500kW Last year, India’s government put forward a target of 10,000 mini-grids with 500MW capacity within five years… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/policy/policy-spotlight-nigeria-india-lead-mini-grids
India's market for solar pumps for irrigation and drinking water was virtually non-existent in 2011, when Claro Energy was founded. But recent attention from federal and state governments, including subsidies, has created a $700 million annual market that is set to expand rapidly. …India's market for solar pumps for irrigation and drinking water was virtually non-existent in 2011, when Claro Energy was founded… https://www.powerforall.org/insights/policy/claro-energy-scaling-solar-irrigation-india-and-africa
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/news-media/articles/100000-reasons-not-forget-urban-rural-connection-sdg7
A new report launched by industry representative Clean Energy Access Network (CLEAN) showed that India’s private sector energy access companies are experiencing growth, and expect to triple their financing needs in the next three years, but need stronger public partnerships to scale more rapidly. …India’s private sector energy access companies are experiencing growth, and expect to triple their financing needs in the next three years, but need stronger public partnerships to scale more rapidly… https://www.powerforall.org/news-media/articles/india-energy-access-sector-makes-headway-also-faces-headwinds-clean-report