Distributed Renewable Energy Projects in Rural Areas of India - A guide to Implementation

The need for renewable energy resources is real and pressing today simply because our current dependence on conventional petro -based fuels and energy sources cannot be sustained. Electrification Scheme over the past two decades there remains a lot of work that needs to be done. The numbers of villages which still don’t have access to electricity continue to be very high and in a number of these village the grid reaching them may still be some years away.

 It is understood that the major problem behind insufficient progress of such projects’ despite Government initiatives, is the lack of interest and enthusiasm of developers wanting to undertake Renewable Energy (RE) projects. This is attributed to lack of knowledge, understanding of perhaps beliefs that RE projects are inherently risky or are devoid of any prospect of commercial gain. There may also be need to eschew short term view on the RE projects and eye long benefits through investing in these projects.

In the context laid out above the present Guide in your hand hopes to provide a comprehensive compilation of all the information required for a would-be developer to understand, identify and implement a renewable energy project. It also aspires to be a single source reference for those wishing to set up projects by providing information on navigating the law, policy and regulatory framework existing at the national and in deferent states. Along with the above there is an attempt to highlight the possible difficulties that the developers face including suggesting ways to overcome them with the help of real life case studies.

As suggested above the essential purpose of this guide is to provide a comprehensive database of information required on policy, legal regulatory and administrative aspects for setting up of a DRE projects. It gives information in easy to understand manner of all the incentives including fiscal and financial which are given by state agencies and financial institutions to promote such projects. The guide dose talk about technology in each RE sector but given its focus on the aspects mentioned above the treatment on technology is only introductory in nature.

• To get a copy contact HBS Delhi office.