Energy is an engine for growth and is linked with all aspects of development, poverty alleviation and improvement of quality of life. For a large country like India with its one billion plus population and rapid economic growth rate, no single energy resource or technology constitutes a panacea to address all issues related to the rising cost of generation, availability of fuel supplies, environmental impact, particularly climate change and health externalities. Another issue is rural electrification, which is viewed as a prime mover for rural development, as it is the basic pre-requisite for all industrial activity and also a significant contributor to increasing agricultural productivity, jobs and income generation activities. But, villages cannot be electrified by conventional grid extension because grid connectivity is not feasible for remote settlements. As a result, the off-grid solution, namely, renewable energy should be taken up for supply of electricity. Renewable energy is the fastest, cleanest and cheapest new source of power. Fortunately, India being a tropical country, is abundantly endowed with renewable energy sources in the form of solar, wind, biomass and small hydro, but now the share of renewables in the total power generation capacity of the country is only 5.3 percent. The modularity and decentralized nature of renewable energy technologies make them well-suited to sustainable energy development in an environment-friendly manner. Thus, it provides ample scope for corporate bodies, utilities and other investors to extract this opportunity. Against this backdrop, this book provides a comprehensive analysis of the role of renewable energy in the nation’s development, status, policy measures, experiences and opportunities. It is hoped that the book will be useful to corporate bodies, policymakers, researchers, management teachers, students and energy professionals.
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