Decentralized power propagation in rural India: a case study approach
Student name: Ms Divya Pahuja
Guide: Dr Soumendu Sarkar
Year of completion: 2016
Host Organisation: TERI University
Abstract: Access to power is an essential condition for an independent livelihood. For remote and inaccessible villages
in India where central grid extension is economically unviable, mini-grids can provide a reliable and
sustainable solution for electrification. However there are many financial, technological and location specific
roadblocks for rural electrification via decentralized energy models like mini-grids. This thesis attempts to
identify some of these barriers specifically for remote and inaccessible villages in India. It follows a case
study approach. The research framework of this study is based on an extensive review of literature on minigrids.
This was followed by a field visit to a small village in Jawhar, Maharashtra. Hamlets in Jawhar were
chosen due to their remote location and low-density population.In order to facilitate faster progress of such
projects new financing and business models along with efficient institutional arrangements are required. This
thesis attempts to identify such models or interventions which are most suitable in Indian rural set-up. This
dissertation also aims to compare various existing interventions for delivering power to such remote and
isolated locations.
Key Words: Rural Electrification, Decentralized Power, Min-grids, Delivery Models, Tariff structures,
Financial Sustainability
