Simdega, Jharkhand
Harnessing solar energy in a Jharkhand village
Assured electricity supply meant the possibility of realising dreams and aspirations
Life for the women has become easier with the use of electric appliances such as mixer blender and electric iron.
Electricity is available to irrigate the fields in a cost-effective manner and crops other than the monsoon-dependent ones can be grown.
The revenues earned from the consumers through monthly electricity bills are used to meet the full operational, repair and maintenance costs of the micro-grid unit. The owner of the land where the project is situated is provided with free electricity, and in return, the cost of leasing is waived off
Way forward
The case of Chenjheria highlights that philanthropic, grant-based financing models of solar micro-grids in India’s aspirational villages, supported by catalytic financing for scaling up micro-grid financing, can help in attaining the 500 gigawatt renewable energy generation goal of the country by 2030, while balancing and reaching the developmental targets by 2047.
