Indo German Energy Program- Access to Energy in Rural Areas-II (IGEN Access-II)

Indo German Energy Program- Access to Energy in Rural Areas-II (IGEN Access-II)

Objectives

  • Strategic and long-term energy planning for selected Indian states
  • Proven models and instruments for improving basic energy supply disseminated (specifically on building capacities of the Village Level Entrepreneurs for selling DRE products and services through DRE products and improving access to finance)
  • Conceptual basis is in place for improving energy supply and quality under specific conditions (like improving energy access for improved health care; flood relief; DRE for productive applications etc)

Description

IGEN Access II aims to deliver by adopting a holistic approach in overall planning by assisting the states in developing Energy Action Plans, disseminating proven models and instruments for improving the basic energy supply, and establishing a conceptual basis for enhancing the energy supply.

Decentralised renewables present an opportunity to contribute towards sustainable energy access for household consumers as well as for productive uses of energy. In addition, achieving overall energy security through decentralised sources, coupled with better planning would also reduce the burden on exchequer.

The program outcome will result in improving the access to energy hence improving the quality of life for citizens of India. It will also provide new opportunities for income generating activities for low- income group.

Approach/Field of intervention

  • Development of energy action plan to strategize the clean energy interventions
  • Technical Assistance for Development of Renewable Energy City
  • Access to finance in rural area to increase the adoption of clean energy sources
  • Capacity building of Village Level Entrepreneurs for selling DRE products and services through DRE products
  • Improving the quality of energy supply under certain specific conditions are implemented.

Targeted beneficiaries

  • Central Government
  • State Government
  • Local City Bodies
  • Rural Population
  • Marginal Income Population

Highlight activities /Achievements

  • Supporting six federal states for the development energy action plan based on supply and demand side data modelling.
  • Access to finance for the adoption of solar energy for rural livelihood. The program has been highly inclusive in terms of reaching out to the Energy Users considering the categories of age, gender, socio-economic indicators, remoteness of villages covered by the project. Under the project more than 1 lac addition loan provided to purchase renewable energy based solutions. Also, more than 3,500 women renewable energy system provider were supported by the project.
  • Implemented pilot to demonstrate that distributed solar systems can play a crucial role in flood relief work by catering to the energy needs of the affected people. The outcome of this pilot will be considered in the development of Distributed Renewable Energy Policy, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Government of India.
  • Various concepts for improving the quality of energy supply under specific conditions were developed, e.g. Livelihood through mini/micro grids (ph 1), upscaling of mini grid (ph 2), DRE in health intervention, DRE in street Lighting, DRE for Medical kit, Water purifier, DRE for communication (Mobile charging) etc.
  • Support in development of DRE policy to MNRE: White paper, concept note on DRE for livelihood (MNRE)- DRE policy demand assess., impact assessment framework, Biomass market-place (Biomass std, local biomass exchange), DRE online portal – IREAP, RE roadmap for fishery value chain.

Success stories

Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) is emerging as a commercially mainstream, potential cost-effective solution to energy poor households. The program has strengthened the ‘Village Level Entrepreneur – VLE’ model for DRE product sales across 12 states and 85 districts with a reach of more than 2675 VLEs. The program built an ecosystem for community engagement, behaviour change and collective participation through extensive awareness campaigns, product demonstrations and behaviour change activities through VLEs. Program has been able to demonstrate its ability of being highly inclusive and relevant to cover socially and economically marginalized communities and more than 50 per cent of target beneficiaries seeking reliable power supply. Its relevance is further reinforced by the fact that more than 40 per cent of the beneficiaries reported increase in productivity and income. In addition to solar lights, the Program was able to facilitate access to high end DRE products for livelihoods applications.

A flooded area can be cut off from clean drinking water, sanitation, and connectivity with other villages and towns. However, as soon as the power grid fails, restoring access to these aspects becomes more difficult. In addition to worsening the daily life conditions of communities already grappling with floods, the lack of power also hampers relief and recovery efforts. People living in rural Bihar commonly use diesel-based generators to tackle power outage. To tackle the challenge, several innovative solar based solutions have been piloted e. g. moveable solar trolley is an e-rickshaw mounted with solar panels, a wearable solar backpack, solar-powered maternity care unit.

Simple, low-cost solar-powered products can greatly improve the lives and livelihoods of rural communities during times of floods. These products are simple to use and can easily be handled and maintained by trained individuals within a community, making them ideal for a state like Bihar, where we can assume that flooding will continue to be an issue for much time to come.

COUNTRY

India

DURATION

April 2019 - March 2024

Contact Person