Socio-Economic Impact Analysis of Introduction of Renewable Energy Technologies in Five Tribal Villages of Gujarat (India)*

Abstract

Renewable energy (RE) technologies are clean sources of energy that have a much lower environmental impact than conventional energy technologies. Growing scarcity of non-renewable resources and consequent increasing cost and inaccessibility of conventional energy technologies at various remote locations have paved the way to renewable energy technologies. In this context, the present study was undertaken to analyze the extent of adoption of renewable energy technologies and impacts of renewable energy technologies in selected tribal villages of Gujarat state (India). The benefits accrued by the rural households and constraints faced by them have been aptly assessed in the paper. The study finds that there is high demand for renewable energy technology based devices such as Solar Lantern, Glass Roof Tiles, Side fed Biomass Cook Stove and Biogas Plant in survey areas. However, inadequate supply, lack of sufficient service points, unavailability of spare parts/accessories of these devices in the local market, sometime delay in repairing of the devices, long procedure in getting the damaged devices repaired have resulted in lower adoption rate in these areas. There is also a need of improving some technologies such as solar dryer and solar cooker so as to improve the adoption rate. Efforts should also be made by Government, NGOs, and related organization to increase awareness among the people to use renewable energy devices.