Defining the value proposition of a regional network for decentralized renewable energy: a case study of South Asia Network for Clean Energy (StANCE)
Student name: Ms Tanya Sharma
Guide: Mr Amit Kumar
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: The Climate Group, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Jarmail Singh
Abstract: South Asian region has been one of the fastest economically growing regions of the world over the last two decades. This economic prosperity has led energy access and energy security to be considered as a critical issue as these nations have faced tremendous energy supply deficits during the periods of economic prosperity. The SA region has the maximum population which lacks access to electricity. In order to meet the requirements of regional economic growth, large-scale investments of resources in infrastructure, technology and access to clean energy are essential. Accelerating clean energy deployment can go beyond its intended result of improving energy security and increasing economic growth. Apart from this, absence of a regional alliance of clean energy stakeholders has always been perceived as a key constraint in accelerated deployment of renewables in the South Asian markets. In the present study, an attempt has been made to analyze the energy sector of the select SA countries. The overall scope of the study is to develop a case for the formulation of a clean energy cooperation network at a regional level that is proposed to be called ‘South Asia Network for Clean Energy (StANCE)’.The study was accomplished by analyzing the existing energy potential, current and projected energy demands, existing cooperation efforts to accelerate the uptake of clean energy in the SA countries. Background research has been conducted in order to validate that the issues of energy access in rural and urban areas of these nations can be addressed through the application of off-grid/micro-grid clean energy systems. Apart from this, a framework for regional clean energy cooperation in South Asia under the proposed coalition called South Asia Network for Clean Energy (StANCE) has been crafted during the course of the study which can be replicated by networks of similar nature. The paper concludes that the current energy demand and supply does not present equilibrium and hence the issue of supply deficits needs urgent attention. The conceivable long term solution to South Asia’s dire energy security predicament is to be found in opportunities of regional sharing and diversifying the use of available energy sources to include renewable energy resources.
