Decentralized Energy Systems Entails: Evidence-Based Policy Approach

The governance structure of the energy sector is unequivocally titled in favour of the conventional sources. Energy access policies appear to be dictated and dominated by the conventional energy sector. Policies negotiating access do not lay due emphasis on a seamless socio-technical transition, recognizing the end-user as the single most important element. Thus, the policies appear to be bereft of adopting an ecosystem approach towards access to energy. The energy transition path is littered with various obstacles arising out of current policy design, institutional and regulatory framework, that exert powerful influence on the current deployment model of energy systems. Decentralized, rural energy systems remain an elusive dream as there are formidable ‘barriers’ to be transcended for a seamlessly favourable energy system transition that is coherent with larger constitutional (ideological) mandate. The ‘barriers’ can be broadly categorized into such categories as: (a) Promotion policy for renewable energy literacy, (b) Policy for technological acculturation, (c) Policy for self-generation by end-users, (d) Policy defining role of district, block, and village-level energy committees and lastly, (e) Policy for rural electrification to be nested in the notion of doable and achievable decentralized energy systems (DES). The ‘barriers’ to transition are region and situation-specific, as the context varies spatially in terms of demand both quantitative and qualitative. The institutional actors of the state need to look upon distributed applications as an alternative approach to energy deployment within human ecosystems. Textually strong policy proposals and concessions to large and small private actors may not be the only way to emancipate rural India from endemic energy poverty. The policy proposals cast statutory obligations on state/region-specific public actors (state-owned utilities) could further promote energy access disparity, aggravate energy poverty and may defeat the overall objective of providing just, fair, and equitable energy access across rural ecosystems dispersed across different geo-climatic zones and physiographic divisions.