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Decentralised Renewable Energy in the Indian Context
The objective of energy planning is to find solutions to match demand • Area-based level: The area is a distinct zone defined either by
and supply of energy sources. Solutions can be demand-orientated administrative boundaries or by factors such as agro-ecology,
(e.g. price policy), supply-orientated (e.g. new supply technologies) or economy, demography or social and cultural characteristics.
mixtures of supply- and demand-orientated solutions.
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The primary Planning objectives include the formulation of site-specific
objective of energy planning is to arrive at a set of agreed feasible and policies, strategies and intervention options in relation to other
consistent targets for energy policy followed by a set of policy actions local development objectives. Area-based energy planning is
to implement such a plan. Energy planning can vary in terms of multisectored with a strong emphasis on traditional fuels.
objectives, levels of disaggregation and time span. One can distinguish
between on the one hand project or programme planning, and on the The Need for Decentralised Energy Planning
other hand development or perspective planning, which should The energy-planning endeavour involves finding a set of sources and
provide a framework for projects and programmes. Perspective conversion devices so as to meet the energy requirements or demands
planning covers a longer time span and considers more sectors and of all the activities in an optimal manner. This could occur at a
processes than project planning. Several levels of disaggregation can centralised or decentralised level. The current pattern of commercial
be distinguished for perspective energy planning. Strong integration energy-orientated development, particularly focused on fossil fuels and
and interaction between different levels should exist for energy centralised electricity, has resulted in inequities, external debt and
planning to be successful: environmental degradation. For example, large proportions of the rural
population and urban poor continue to depend on low-quality energy
• National level: National energy planning covers planning for a sources and inefficient devices. This is largely a result of the adoption of
whole country. Planning objectives include the formulation of centralised energy planning (CEP), which ignores the energy needs of
broad and long-term policies, strategies and intervention options rural areas and the poor, and which has also led to environmental
in relation to national economy planning. National energy degradation due to fossil fuel consumption and forest degradation. CEP
planning is usually supply-orientated with a focus on cannot pay attention to the variations in socioeconomic and ecological
conventional fuels. factors between regions that influence sustained success of any
• Sub-national or intermediate level: At this level, sub-divisions intervention. Decentralised energy planning (DEP) favours efficient
occur according to administrative boundaries. Planning objectives utilisation of resources. The regional planning mechanism takes into
include the formulation of sub-national policies, strategies and account the various available resources and demands in a region. This
intervention options in relation to sub-national planning and implies that the assessment of demand and supply and its intervention
environmental objectives. in the energy system, which may appear desirable due to such exercises,