Self-Help Groups (SHGs) Model for accelerating Grid Connected Rooftop Solar PV (GC-RSPV) in the Residential Sector of India

Abstract

The Government of India (GoI) set an ambitious target to provide uninterrupted energy access across all sectors of the economy 2022. In this context, it’s a commitment to deploy 40GW of GC-RSPV by 2022 in the residential sector is facing multiple challenges, which is hindering the progress of market penetration on a large scale. The existing business models failed to deploy at scale due to limited support from loss-making discoms, lack of coordination between institutions, perception of residential consumers about GC-RSPV technology and access to consumer finance, etc made target unachievable. Hence, there is a need for a suitable business model, which is complemented a top-down approach with bottom-up initiatives along with the involvement of various stakeholders. Therefore, this study proposes a SHGs model to accelerate GC-RSPV at scale. This model is a viable strategy since it is mainstreamed in the financial landscape and this program is the world's largest social mobilization initiative supported by various stakeholders such as NGOs, governments, and banks. This model will yield good results if the discussed assumptions are fulfilled. Further, adopting a technology push strategy with regulations rather than a market pull strategy will help higher market penetration. As a result, this business model has the potential to enhance women entrepreneurship, energy access among rural communities where grid connectivity is a problem and help to achieve other developmental goals.