Solar energy applications and rural livelihoods
Student name: Mr Praveen Kumar
Guide: Mr Amit Kumar
Year of completion: 2015
Host Organisation: Energy Unlimited Foundation, New Delhi
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Mr Ashish Jain
Abstract: In this thesis, I have studied various solar energy applications that have been
experimented across the globe and looked at the applicability of those to the
generation of rural livelihoods. The thesis also attempts a study of solar energy
applications in relation to clean energy access in India. With the growing size of
its population, the energy requirement in India has also been increasing
constantly. The grid supplied electricity has thus far not been able to cover every
household and does not meet the energy requirements in the grid-covered areas.
The erratic supply of electricity is a major problem in many parts of rural India.
Solar off-grid solutions can not only illuminate the far-off areas of the country
but can also provide a clean energy option to ensure a sustainable development
of the energy sector in India. I have then looked at solar water pumps as an
example and studied the feasibility, financing options and acceptability of these
pumps in the Indian agriculture sector. This thesis is going to form a basis for a
possible Solar Water Pump project for a village called Kaliyawas in peri-urban
Gurgaon, Haryana.
Keywords: Renewable energy, Solar Energy, Clean Energy, Solar Water Pump,
Rural Livelihood, Kaliyawas
