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Emissions Mitigation Potential of Clean Development Mechanism-built
Solar Home Systems in India
a report by
Industry Outlook
Pallav Purohit
Research Scholar, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
Access to modern energy resources is fundamental for social contribute 10% of total power generation capacity and have a 4–5%
development and economic growth. The International Energy share in the electricity mix. This implies that growth in RE will occur
Agency (IEA) estimates that 1.6 billion people worldwide have no at a much faster pace than traditional power generation, with RE
access to electricity – most of them in sub-Saharan Africa and making up 20% of the 70,000MW of total additional energy planned
southern Asia.
1
Moreover, despite the slowing of population growth between 2008 and 2012.
and future economic growth prospects, the number of people
without access to electricity in 2030 will still be 1.4 billion.
1
It should Rural Electrification in India Using Renewable Energy
be noted that a lack of access to modern energy resources mainly In 2005, the GOI launched a massive initiative for universal
affects rural communities in developing regions because these electrification through Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyut Yojona (RGGVY)
communities represent the majority of the population in such after realising the magnitude of the challenge and recognising the
regions. For example, in India, rural communities represent more need for state support in initial infrastructure development for energy
than 72% of the country’s population.
The Government of India (GOI) has given priority to the power sector
India has a vast supply of
since independence and fixed the five-year plan outlays. As a result, the
renewable energy resources
installed generating capacity has risen from around 1,300MW at the time
and one of the largest
of independence to more than 156GW in 2009. However, it has not kept
pace with the growth in demand or the growth of the economy programmes in the world for
generally. Currently, India has a 12% shortage of power during peak
deploying renewables.
hours. According to the 2001 census, only 60 million (44%) households
of around 138 million rural householdsin India use electricity as a source
of lighting. Although the electrification rate improved from 42% in 1991 supply. The programme aimed to achieve village electrification by
to 62% in 2005, more than 400 million people in India were without 2009 and provide electricity access to all households by 2012. So far,
access to electricity in 2005.
1
the Ministry of Power has sanctioned 567 projects for 540 districts to
electrify 118,499 villages and to provide free electricity connections
Current Status of Renewables in India to 24.6 million households below the poverty line (BPL).
India has a vast supply of renewable energy (RE) resources and one of
the largest programmes in the world for deploying renewables. The As of 31 December 2009, 67,607 villages have been electrified and
key drivers of RE development in India are the large untapped 8.34 million free electricity connections have been released to BPL
potential, the demand–supply gap, environmental concerns, the need households (powermin.gov.in). It was estimated that there are about
to strengthen India’s energy security, pressure on high-emission 18,000 villages without electricity in remote and difficult areas such
sectors from their stakeholders and the need for solutions for rural as forests, hills, deserts and islands; therefore, it was decided that
electrification. The country has an estimated RE potential of remote villages that could not be electrified by conventional grid
85,000MW from commercially exploitable sources: wind 45,000MW, extension should be electrified by RE. The Ministry of New and
small hydro 15,000MW and biomass/bioenergy 25,000MW.
2
In Renewable Energy (MNRE) of the GOI is implementing the Remote
addition, India has the potential to generate 35MW/km
2
using solar Village Electrification (RVE) programme with the objective of
energy. Of the total 15,542MW of RE projects installed in India by electrifying all the remote census villages and remote hamlets of
October 2009, wind energy contributes 10,891MW, small hydro electrified census villages through non-conventional energy sources
power 2,520MW, biomass power and co-generation 2,058MW, such as solar, small hydro, biomass, wind, hybrid, etc.
waste to energy 67MW and solar power 6MW (grid-interactive).
2
The
GOI has also set specific targets for RE: by 2012 it expects RE to Solar electrification has emerged as a leading alternative to grid-based
rural electrification in many developing countries. In spite of the
limitations of being a diluted source and intermittent in nature,
Pallav Purohit is a Research Scholar at the International Institute for Applied Systems
Analysis. Previously, he was a Post-doctoral Research Fellow at the Hamburg Institute
solar energy has the potential to meet and supplement various energy
of International Economics. His research interests are renewable energy, flexibility
end-use activities. MNRE is promoting the use of solar photovoltaic
instruments and policy concerning environmental issues in developing countries.
Dr Purohit completed his PhD in energy policy and planning at the Indian Institute
(PV)-based home systems to meet the objective of complete rural
of Technology. electrification by 2012 for basic lighting requirements in households in
E: purohit@iiasa.ac.at
remote and less inhabited villages where extension of grid network is
currently not feasible. The cumulative production of PV modules in the
© TOUCH BRIEFINGS 2010
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