Energy innovations: a focus on
clean technologies for livelihood
generation in India
Manish Anand
TERI, New Delhi
Asia LEDS Forum 2014: Development through
LEDS and Green Growth
Yogyakarta, Indonesia
November 11-13, 2014,
Rural Energy Poverty in Asia
Region
Population without electricity
millions
Electrification rate
%
Urbanelectrification
rate%
Ruralelectrification
rate%
China 3 99.8 100.0 99.6
India 306 75.3 93.9 66.9
Southeast Asia 134 77.6 90.5 67.2
Brunei Darussalam 0 100 100 99
Cambodia 9 34 97 18
Indonesia 66 73 85 60
Laos 1 78 93 70
Malaysia 0 100 100 99
Myanmar 25 49 89 29
Philippines 28 70 89 52
Singapore 0 100 100 100
Thailand 1 99 100 99
Vietnam 4 96 100 94
Rest of developing Asia 172 61.4 81.9 51.7
Bangladesh 61 60 90 48
DPR Korea 18 26 36 11
Mongolia 0 88 98 67
Nepal 7 76 97 72
Pakistan 56 69 88 57
Sri Lanka 3 85 96 84
Other Asia 27 32 59 22
Asia 615 83.1 95.0 74.9
Electricity access in Asia in 2011
SOURCE: IEA, World Energy Outlook 2013
• Since 2000, around
2/3rd of the people gaining
access to electricity have
been in urban areas and
the population without
electricity access has
become more
concentrated in rural
areas.
• More than 8 out of 10
people without modern
energy access live in rural
areas
• India has < 1/5th of
world’s population but has
~ 40% of world’s
population without access
to electricity
Green growth and inclusive development in rural
areas (1/2)
• Decentralized solutions and clean energy technologies
have the potential to reduce energy imports, improve the
stability of electricity supply, save costs, save climate
(Martinot et al. 2002, Chaure et al. 2004, Verma & Cisse 2004,
ESCAP 2005).
• Few studies have empirically established the potential of
clean energy as a driver of poverty alleviation in
developing countries (Meadows et al. 2003, Toman and
Jemelkova 2003, Martinot et al. 2002, Cabraal et al. 2005).
• Clean energy based technological applications and
innovations can play an enabling role in livelihood
enhancement in non-electrified rural areas.
• Key challenges for dissemination of appropriate RE system:
– Effectiveness (viability, reliability, applicability) of offered technology
– Emphasis on technology demonstration or target oriented programmes
like Remote Village Electrification
– Programmes implemented on the basis of broad administrative criteria,
such as providing access to electricity to rural people, rather than
focusing on more specific outcomes, such as increasing user’s
capacities to generate income or other benefits
• Limited efforts on customising a set of new and existing technologies (a
combination of solar/ wind/ biomass/ battery storage/ power interface
etc.) specifically for livelihood activities for improving reliability and
hence uptake of electricity services as well as enhance their cost-
effectiveness.
• One of the international studies has shared this perspective in the
context of limited success of renewable energy programmes (Urmee &
Harries 2009).
Green growth and inclusive development in rural
areas (2/2)
Clean energy innovation for livelihood generation in
India - Solar Multi-Utility (SMU) Platform (1/2)
• A multi-utility platform that utilizes the locally available solar energy
resources to generate electricity.
• The generated electricity would then be used for variety of applications
such as charging lanterns, powering other appliances such as computer,
mobile phones, water purifier etc.
• SMU is located near the energy utilization points in a village to provide
electricity services as per the need of the community.
• Using a multidisciplinary and participative
perspective the research investigates the
opportunities and challenges for social as well
as technological innovations in the development
and deployment of clean energy based
technological applications in rural India, and how
can such innovations contribute to the
achievement of important social goals for the
population.
Clean energy innovation for livelihood generation in
India - Solar Multi-Utility (SMU) Platform (2/2)
Contextualizing innovation
• Innovation understood as the process of improving
or developing clean energy technologies,
technological systems and their impact on specific
livelihood related end-uses
• Innovation in the entire value chain of generation,
implementation and utilization of renewable /clean
technologies
• Technology not only designed and integrated
adequately but also delivered through an effective
service delivery model with an active community
involvement
Dimensions of innovation:
• Use of latest technological and scientific know-how in designing, developing, customising and testing technologies to meet specific end-use applications of rural communities in reliable and cost-effective manner
• How communities associate themselves with the newly introduced technologies and accept/ enhance the uptake of the energy services for their socio-economic benefits and transition to sustainable developmental practices.
Technical dimension
Societal dimension
Institutional framework
Methodology for Technology
Customization
• Baseline survey
Energy demand for livelihood generation
• Market assessment
Available appliances for required livelihood
• Optimum energy requirement
• Demand and supply optimization
Customized solar (hybrid) energy based
system
Methodology for impact assessment
Base-line survey
with measurable
indicators
Clean energy based
technology
intervention
Compare Base-line
with measurable
indicators
Livelihood generation activities
• Battery charging, Mobile phone charging
• Turmeric grinding, Chilli/spice grinding
• Bamboo slicing/slivering
• Honey skimming
• Silkworm reeling,
• Jaggery production
• ICT applications
Installation of SMU
Remote monitoring mechanism for performance
assessment and monitoring of the SMU
Capacity building measures and the outcomes
Introductory training to Implementation Partner and SHGs on
Objective of SMU Fee for service model-advantages and disadvantages Roles and responsibilities of different partnersLegal
frameworks and agreement required
Trained SHGs on
How to collect revenues
How to maintain revenue record
How to document and report the
system fault if occurred
Trained Impl. Partner on
How to monitor the performance of entrepreneur
How to produce monthly report on SMU
Impl. Partner and SHGs unaware of
Benefits of SMU
Fee-for service model
revenue collection mechanism
record keeping and reporting method
Before training and capacity building Training and Capacity building measures After training and capacity building
Training to Impl. partner and Entrepreneur (through
sensitization workshop) on - - -
Record keeping and documentation; Monitoring, verification and
reporting,
Development of record keeping and monitoring system
Orientation cum exposure programme to Impl. partner and SHGs on
Basic operation of SMU
Advantages and challenges of SMU
Demonstration of different component of SMU
Explaining instruction manualsTraining programme to Impl. partner and SHGs on O&M of SMU
Demonstration on assembling of lantern
Demonstration of complete operation and maintenance of SMU as
well as of the remote monitoring system
Understanding the type of fault that can occurred in SMU and how
to address that
Training and Capacity building measures in Institutional issues
Training and Capacity building measures on Technological issues
Trained SHGs on
Basic Know-how of different
components of SMU
Basic repair and maintenance of
SMU
Trained Impl. Partner on
Basic Know-how of SMU and its
various components
Impl. Partner and SHGs unexposed to
Type of services that can be provided
from SMU
How to use solar systems etc
How to operate and maintain solar
systems
Training and Capacity building measures on Entrepreneurial issues
Interaction with Impl. partner and SHGs on
Different business models which can be adopted for expanding the business
Additional services which can be provided from the SMU
Impl. partner and SHGs are unexposed to
Different possible livelihood generating applications/benefits of SMU
Different business models
SHGs exploring other energy
options/applications which can be catered
through SMU
Major processes involved
Identification/selection of site
Selection of implementation partner
Identification of SHGs
Market survey of
the available
appliances
Finalization of configuration of
SMU and development of revenue
model
Scoping study for setting up of SMU
Performance assessment of SMU
through remote monitoring system
Setting up of SMU
Training and
capacity building
Findings and way forward
Developing innovative technology packages
through continuous technology customization
and up-gradation
Testing and assessing the performance of the
these packages
Piloting the technology packages
Need assessment for
high value, high
income generating
activities
Framework for up-scaling
Source: Jolly 2010
• There can be no
systematic tools for
understanding up-
scaling
• The process of up-
scaling takes place at
multiple dimensions
and an interdisciplinary
approach is key to its
understanding
• Relevant research
field - system of
innovation, strategic
management, social
entrepreneurship,
development studies,
and bottom of pyramid
literature.
Learning's on innovation and up-scaling (1/2)
• The purpose of SMU is well accepted amongst the communities
and the preliminary assessment study indicates a huge potential
of up-scaling such SMU.
• Innovation is extremely necessary for up-scaling - developing
innovative technology packages based on the requirements and
demands of the local communities through continuous technology
development and customization in most efficient and cost effective
manner.
• Up-scaling for enterprises in the literature and practice as well has
been focused in the past on few dimensions, mostly quantitative
• Up-scaling is primarily driven by the vision, mission and
expectations of the enterprises
• Value chain upscaling i.e. moving up the value chain for
enterprises requires a balancing act.
Learning's on innovation and up-scaling (2/2)
• Up-scaling only takes place successfully when the enterprises are
financially sustainable; developing a viable model requires learning in the
form of double loop learning where enterprises need to develop model
which are financially self sustainable and not dependent on external
grants and subsidies.
• Finance plays a critical role but the important point is that it must fit with
the motivation, expectations, style of working and business model of the
enterprise.
• Human resources constraints during scaling up hinders expansion of
social enterprises beyond a pilot stage
• Enterprises need to form partnerships with commercialization partners,
distribution networks and get noticed, enhancing embeddedness into
local cultural environment, certifications from international bodies, media
exposure through interviews and knowledge dissemination activities and
awards from professional bodies has helped gain legitimacy
Up-scaling scan for policy makers
Policy AssignmentUp scaling
specific innovation form
niches to mainstream
Target situation
Current situation
GapIntervention
strategy
Subsidies Fiscal incentivesRegulationCovenantsPurchase policyTaxesPlatforms
Analysis Strategy Policy instruments
New policy instruments
Source: ISandick & Oostra: Upscaling Energy Related Innovations
Thank you
Contact: [email protected]
Website: www.teriin.org
Acknowledgment
Developed under the TERI research project:
“Innovating to bring clean energy for livelihood generation in India”
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