This report examines how policy and practice may enhance women’s empowerment though electrification in rural areas in the South. It presents the results of a desk study in which empirical literature on women’s empowerment from electrification and international initiatives and national electricity policies in Kenya, India, and Nepal are studied.

Smarter grid technology can enable India’s unusual diversity in electricity; however, there is no technological fix to socio-economic challenges and gender inequalities. The answers to the question about whether renewable energy technologies are inherently gender-friendly may provide invaluable insights.

Energy access by itself encompasses the concept of inclusivity. The Government of India’s vision is to create Ujawal Bharat by providing 24x7 power to all by 2019. State specific action plans are currently being prepared to ensure both existing and unconnected consumers have access to quality power in phases.

Energy access in India is a multi-dimensional issue. Through the development of a multi-dimensional and multi-tier measurement framework and its subsequent evaluation, this study aims to bridge the gap in understanding of energy access, and to capture the detailed data on the state of energy access in India.

In remote villages without electricity, a silent revolution is literally electrifying lives. Hundreds of thousands of villagers currently residing in the rice belt of India are the proud beneficiaries of husk power system, a financially sustainable and environment-friendly village generator.

Note: For a full copy of the case study on “Electrifying Rural India with Husk Power,” please refer to Case Study #4, pages 20-23, of the attached compendium.

Access to energy is critical to the development of India’s rural economy, where rural electrification remains a challenge. The attractiveness of solar power as a renewable energy source is demonstrated in this case study. The importance of forming new partnerships to attract more private investments to the renewable energy sector is also highlighted.

Note: For a full copy of the case study on “Solar-Based Village Electrification: A Pilot Public–Private–People Partnership Project,” please refer to Case Study #25, pages 113-116, of the attached compendium.

Energy access remains one of the most fundamental challenges in India. The Asian Development Bank’s $2 million equity investment in Simpa Networks’ pay-as-you-go solar energy offering creates affordability for rural consumers in India, while the prepaid nature of the scheme makes the business model attractive for private sector investments.