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29.09.2022

Consultative Workshop on “Decentralised Renewable Energy for Net Zero Transition with maximum social impact”

Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, IGEN – Access II Program, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), Association of Renewable Energy Agencies of States (AREAS) and Clean Energy Access Network, organised a consultative workshop on ‘Decentralised Renewable Energy for Net Zero Transition with maximum social impact’ at Renewable Energy India Expo on 29 September 2022 at Raman Hall, India Expo Centre and Mart, Gurgaon.

The workshop was the first of its kind where different stakeholders – MNRE (policy makers), implementation agencies, end users, technology suppliers, and bilateral agencies came together to discuss the theme. In addition, representatives from the Government department, Maharashtra Energy Development Authority (MEDA), Ms. Prerna Ojas, UPSRLM, and Meghalaya State Rural Livelihood Society participated and shared their learnings.

Among the speakers at the event were Dr. Veepin Kumar, Deputy Director, MNRE; Ms. Himani Mehta, Assistant Director, MNRE; Ms. Nidhi Sarin, Senior Advisor, GIZ, and Lt. Col. Monish Ahuja, President, CLEAN. The event also brought together 16 DRE adopters and beneficiaries from five Indian states who shared their insights and experiences relating to DRE adoption and integration within different livelihood activities.

Key Takeaways from the Workshop: 

  • Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) has an important role to play in achieving the 2030 ambitious goals set by the Government of India and its overall commitment of 500 GW.  
  • DRE technology integration in farm and non-farm livelihood can directly impact the end users and has huge potential to support rural economic growth, particularly women and can act as a catalytic engine to enhance the green village economy. 
  • Awareness and sensitisation about DRE technologies for end users and stakeholders including financial institutions is important and required immediately across geography.  
  • Pilot projects by different organisations are implemented with the support of government institutions and bi/multilateral agencies across geography.
  • Huge potential to learn from the existing experience exists that includes understanding the demand of a particular DRE product within the value chain using energy gap study, designing of business loan for procuring DRE technology for integration in farm and non-farm livelihood activities, convergence and leverage funds from existing government programs and schemes.  
  • The experience shared by beneficiaries across geography from different organisations helps demonstrate DRE integration within livelihood can help promote additional income, employment generation and opportunity for women entrepreneurship in the rural regions.
  • Highlighting the impact of DRE intervention, Mr. Lakhpat Pandit from Giridi Farmer Producer Organisation (Odisha) noted that with DRE integration the earning increased from Rs10/kg to Rs16/kg. The DRE technology was integrated with different local livelihoods, for instance, leaf plate making unit, dryers for turmeric and potato drying and pulveriser.
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  • In the closing remarks, MNRE representatives highlighted that the framework on “DRE for Livelihood” is currently in process of development by the ministry and if implemented will support all relevant stakeholders and help scaleup the pilot initiatives at a larger level across geographies.