Energetica India Magazine December 2020

ENERGY STORAGE Future Proofing Rural India Solar plus energy storage is perhaps the most viable option for standalone hamlets or villages where there is no grid connectivity, and the electricity is currently generated using diesel generator sets. With increased focus on climate change globally, there has been a shift towards renewable energy. India too is seeing a steady transition from fossil fuels towards renewable energy sources. With an ambitious target of achieving 40 per cent of installed capacity based on renewable sources by 2030, energy storage appears to be the key to unlock the true potential of renewable energy and realize this target. 50 energetica INDIA- December_2020 The elderly grandfather moves slowly through the darkness, wary of any ob- stacle that might be in his path. With confidence, he reaches out and flips a switch. Like magic, a warm light fills the room. In another house nearby, a table lamp illuminates the pages as a student studies with the help of her father in the evening after dinner and his long work- day as a farmer. In the same village, a school that once closed at dusk is now open for more hours of the day, meet- ing increased demand for education in a growing population. Near the school, the only healthcare facility in the vil- lage used to close before dark. Now it is open in the evening, providing care to a few more sick patients each day. For the tired doctor and nurses inside, a fan cooling the air and a brightly lit room provide comfort and confidence to provide the care their patients deserve. In the town, electric streetlights now pro- vide safety and security to the residents; harmful kerosene lamps now just a relic of the past. In another home, a child runs in -excitedly narrating to his parents that which he just watched on a neighbour’s tv, informing and educating them about the world beyond their village. Close to town, a couple of looms or rural handi- craft units now operate at peak capacity, 24 hours per day, providing good jobs to workers in the local village and ensuring they do not have to leave their families to find work. As evening darkens the vil - lage goes to sleep with a hope for next dawn. Thus, is the social impact of the electrification of rural India. India is a land of villages. More than 600,000 villages are scattered around the rural areas of the country; each with a unique identity. These villages are where you get to know the true roots and character of this great country. Visiting a village may sound like a rustic affair but therein lies the true essence of India. Seventy percent it’s population – roughly one-tenth of humanity – live in this coun- tryside. It is a testament to the people who live here that they continue to thrive, with limited facilities and rapid popula- tion growth. Indeed, India is thriving as a nation and on the international stage. This also makes rural India a focal point for issues of national and global con- cern. Economic and societal growth must be addressed. Improvements to society such as electrification, health - care, quality education and sanitation must be provided with minimal impact to the climate. Over the years, many of India’s resil- ient rural villages have been trying to remain relevant and adapt to change without losing valued traditions and Ambarish Ghosh Vice President Business Development, Sterling PlanB The societal impact of energy storage in off grid and island communities A student rides to his school in rural India. Image courtesy Vijay Hiware 6, via Twenty 20.