Enhanced Minigrids: The Case For India (original) (raw)

Over 1.2 billion people - one-fifth of the world's population - lack access to electricity. Approximately 628 million live in Asia together with 575 million in Africa. By most estimates, between 260 and 280 million people in India are currently foreclosed from using electricity representing something on the order of 30 million households. A further 100 million people who currently enjoy electricity suffer regular power outages ranging from a few hours to a few days. All said in terms of sheer numbers, India is home to the largest number of people enduring energy poverty. The negative socio-economic consequences of energy poverty manifest themselves in far too many ways, including lack of educational opportunity, economic opportunity foregone, gender inequality, lower crop production, moderate to severe health issues caused by the use of fossil fuels for heating and cooking, and higher mortality rates. India is on the verge of a defining inflection point as to how it will expand the energy infrastructure to address current and future energy demand. It requires slaying two dragons: (1) providing power to those currently without, and (2) engineering the grid to accommodate the most cost-effective and reliable energy needs for the future. The central grid will continue to play a major role in supplying base-load electricity throughout India. However small independent minigrid systems show great potential since they can more cost-effectively adjust to rapidly changing local energy needs and demands.

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