Energy access for Renewable energy in Rural areas

One of the key requirements in fulfilling human needs is access to energy. It creates a window for multi-dimensional solutions to the interconnected challenges. In developing countries, access to affordable and reliable energy services is fundamental to reducing poverty and improving health, increasing productivity, enhancing competitiveness and promoting economic growth. It would help to improve the quality of life of the communities in terms of cost savings, health, education, access to information, etc. Energy plays a prominent role in addressing the challenges of poverty and climate change.

It is also a major driver for human development and inclusive growth. Access to energy can improve rural livelihoods by advancing agricultural and agro-processing practices. (ex: sugar production, dairy processing, etc.). These not only increase the rural incomes but on a larger plane, also address the issues of food security.

Over 1.7 billion people are without access to electricity worldwide, most of them concentrated in about a dozen countries in Africa and Asia. According to the Ministry of statistics and program implementation, 100% of the towns are electrified, whereas 83.7% of the villages are electrified. However, 45% of rural households do not have access to electricity and over 1 million households have no access to any form of modern energy.

India Energy Situation 2008:

• Electrification rate, total – 64.5%
• Electrification rate, urban – 93.1%
• Electrification rate, rural – 52.5%
• Population without electricity – 404.5 million.

The challenge that India faces in its energy sector is not confined to creating large-scale generating facilities, but about solving those last-mile problems in the areas of reliability and affordability, for its 40 crore population.

As for the energy sector, GOI works with a well-meant intention which is pro-poor. But on the ground, it often gets translated into untargeted subsidies for both producers and consumers. This does not just result in failing the objective but also hinders the financial sustainability of the energy sector.

Therefore it is required that India’s investments in energy should focus on solving the last mile access problems and making it financially sustainable and environment-friendly. One of the ways of doing it can be by harnessing the locally available renewable resources. One of the sectors we tried to explore on these lines is of micro hydropower.

India also has one of the highest potentials for harnessing renewable energy as it is bestowed with such natural resources and geographical and climatic conditions that could support the promotion of renewable energy technologies like solar, wind, biomass and small hydro.

Micro-Hydro Power

The use of the Micro-Hydro power, is a potential for rural development, in relation to rural development. The simplicity and low relative cost of micro-hydro systems open up new opportunities for some isolated communities in need of electricity. With only a small stream needed, remote areas can access lighting and communications for homes, medical clinics, schools, and other facilities.

Micro-hydro can even run a certain level of machinery supporting small businesses. Regions along the Andes Mountains and in Sri Lanka and China already have similar, active programs. One seemingly unexpected use of such systems in some areas is to keep young community members from moving into more urban regions in order to spur economic growth. Also, as the possibility of financial incentives for less carbon-intensive processes grows, the future of micro-hydro systems may become more appealing.

The farmers and villagers of Chembur village in Coorg district of Karnataka have significantly chosen the Pico – hydropower for energy access. The village is surrounded by forests and is typically inhabited by poor farmers who had no access to electricity but had almost perennial streams running through their habitation. A 1-kW pico-hydro plant provides 24 kWh of 220 V, 50 Hz AC power per day and all available equipment that is used in the village currently can be used with this power. The users have access to the kind of power available in urban areas. The equipment that can be run using electricity generated from pico-hydro includes lights, TV, grinder-mixer, and household items. Some users have also utilized it for income generation activities.

Today, about 80 houses in the village have installed these systems 40 more are expected to receive electricity supply by this year. The village is on the way to becoming a 100% pico-hydro powered village. Another case, at the village, puts it, had installed micro-hydro plants that catalyzed visible changes, such as an increase in income levels, work-sharing leisure time, community initiative, sanitation, and cleanliness, etc., this plant has benefited the neighborhood seven villages. In order to sustain water flow in the streams, reduce silt load, and restore biodiversity, the villagers have taken forest protection and plantation seriously over 300 hectares of forests are protected. The community is also into a process of capacity building for sustainable use of land.

In another case, The MNRE (Ministry of New and Renewable Energy), Government of India, has been pioneering the electrification by providing a subsidy for setting up hydel projects of different capacities such as for villages from Arunachal Pradesh, as the state is mostly hilly and is covered with dense forest. The Bikhi MHP (Micro Hydel Project) of 2 × 15-kW capacity, is one such project constructed under the subsidy assistance from the MNRE under the RVE (rural village electrification) program. This project falls under the Sagalee circle of Papumpare district in Arunachal Pradesh. The project has been running successfully ever since it was commissioned.

There has been no requirement for any kind of special or major maintenance so far. The running and maintenance of the project are being done by the villagers themselves. The concept of the Village Energy Management Committee has been introduced in this project and is under assessment and monitoring at present. Technical assistance and general guidance are provided by APEDA (Arunachal Pradesh Energy Development Agency) whenever required.

These successful attempts of small communities to provide energy access to themselves by themselves broadens the horizon and exhibits the state of many organizations in India who have worked in providing access to electricity and enhancing the livelihoods.