Commercializing renewable energy in India

Abstract

‘Promoting freedom from Fossil Fuels…but the time is running out…soon, there will be nothing left to burn
on the earth but earth itself’.

The Indian economy is experiencing tremendous growth over the past several years. Energy, in all its
forms, underpins both past and future growth. For the economy to continue this trajectory, India needs to
address its energy challenges across all sectors. India has abundant, untapped renewable energy
resources including a large land mass that receives the highest solar irradiance of 5 trillion kWh/yr, a
large coastline of 7500 Kms for realising on-shore & offshore wind potential, significant annual production
of biomass, and numerous rivers and waterways having immense potential for developing hydropower.

Inspite of abundant renewable resources present in India, India is suffering from acute shortage of
energy.There is a demand of proper electric supply in rural areas. We are aware of the technology but
are still not able to take the benefit of it. There is a strong need for commercialization of renewable
energy.This research is done to find the problems faced by the entrepreneurs in commercializing the
renewable sources of energy and finding out proper solution to the problems. The key barriers to
development of small-scale renewable energy projects are four fold.rural entrepreneurs do not usually
have the knowledge and expertise necessary to write business plans for enterprises, the paperwork and
soft costs associated with identifying and obtaining access to financing for small- and medium-scale
projects is high relative to the financing needs. Without critical first-stage financing, most of the
entrepreneurs interested in developing renewable energy projects will not be able to take the time away
from normal business operations to implement renewable energy projects. many of the renewable energy
technologies are still relatively new to the market, so the commercial chains, networks, marketing and
financial links, and other institutional structures that service traditional energy technologies are not in
place to assist the entrepreneur even if she/he has the skills, know-how and capital. Given the
“newness”, there is a limited availability of investment capital to finance the high upfront costs associated
with the initial stages of developing a renewable energy project.

This research includes the review of the report of CREI by WII, which includes the data taken from
various enterprenieurs who had made an attempt to open a small scale renewable energy power
house,the chaitanya mahila sangam of Andhra Pradesh, a group of lady working for energy plantation
activity, the rural cluster, Canara bank, APITCO, REEDS, RET’s, SRDT, AET.

Through this Research small and big entrepreneurs will be able to establish a renewable power
centre.The Entrepreneurial support to manufacturing and service providers, Entrepreneurial support to
rural areas, Finance and credit support, Institutional capacity-building will let to proper development of
renewable energy production for commercial use.

The following are the expected outputs from this capacity-building initiative, which will complement the
CREI project: A pool of trained personnel who could impart knowledge and skills necessary for potential
small entrepreneurs establishing businesses using renewable energy- NGOs, self-help groups and other
user groups with adequate awareness and other skills required to implement renewable energy projects
for sustainable livelihoods as business proposals.Successful pilots under CREI replicated in other
districts of AP through sharing of successes and experiences.

Conclusion

There is an urgent need for transition from petroleum-based energy systems to one based on renewable
resources to decrease reliance on depleting reserves of fossil fuels and to mitigate climate change. In
addition, renewable energy has the potential to create many employment opportunities at all levels,
especially in rural areas. An emphasis on presenting the real picture of massive renewable energy
potential, it would be possible to attract foreign investments to herald a Green Energy Revolution in India.

The Research is catalysing market development for renewable energy systems linked to productive
applications; providing enterprise incubation services, training inputs covering all aspects of the
commercialization chain, and initial small investments of seed capital; facilitating community involvement;
and interfacing with ongoing rural development activities at the local level. Thus, the Research is paving
the way for sustained rural energy services at the local level through the entrepreneurial approach.

With the growing numbers of small entrepreneur, India is much likely to enter into the list of eco-friendly
countries and devlop itself into one of the most super power into renewable energy sources. We expect to
attract more investors into this project of developing renewable energy plants into reality.

By-

Kuntal Mahato

Roll no. 10

F.D.-6