Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) essentially refers to energy drawn using renewable resources that is used and distributed in a decentralized fashion. These technologies aim to provide clean energy solutions to rural areas. DRE has the potential to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, mitigate the climate crisis and improve access to energy. They can be used in several areas such as water pumping, agricultural processing and energy generation. The early adoption of DRE technologies is hindered by several factors such as upfront cost, limited awareness and knowledge, inadequate policy and regulatory frameworks, technical and operation issues. Steps to enhance government support, financial incentivization, public-private partnerships and capacity building initiatives would play a crucial role in ensuring adequate deployment of DRE technologies. India currently has 12 mature technologies powered by DRE, including high-capacity irrigation pumps, silk reeling machines and dryers. These have the potential to impact 37 million livelihoods, with 547,380 installations and an estimated impact on 566,827 people. Solar-powered technologies like irrigation pumps, vertical fodder-growing units, and dryers have the highest potential owing to government subsidies. Uttar Pradesh leads in the estimated future adoption of solar-powered technologies, followed by West Bengal, Bihar, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, and Karnataka. One of the major barriers that is leading to the poor acceptance of this technology is the poor connection to the manufacturer as the technology is made available through philanthropic efforts.
Decentralized Renewable Energy: The New way of Consumption
