India has significantly increased its renewable energy capacity in line with the Paris Agreement and India’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). However, the intermittency of sources like solar and wind threatens grid stability. Distributed Renewable Energy (DRE) helps mitigate this issue by decentralizing energy production, thus reducing the strain on the central grid and enhancing its stability.
DRE systems offer numerous benefits, including enhanced energy access in remote and underserved areas, reduced transmission losses, and increased resilience against central grid failures. Among DRE systems, Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) stands out for its ability to drive economic growth and improve livelihoods by powering income-generating activities such as agriculture, small-scale manufacturing, and services. The impact of PURE is profound, as it not only provides clean energy but also stimulates local economies, creates jobs, and fosters sustainable development.
India PURE Finance Facility (IPFF) at CPI is an initiative to accelerate the adoption of PURE in low-income communities and rural areas by providing financial assistance for transaction-related technical support that can mobilize new sources of finance for existing and emerging PURE enterprises. Besides facilitating the transition from fossil fuel-run processes and equipment, resulting in emissions abatement, these productive uses have substantial potential to reduce operating costs, support livelihoods, and foster social and economic growth. However, adopting PURE faces several challenges, including high upfront costs, lack of awareness and technical expertise, and inadequate financing options. Overcoming these barriers requires coordinated efforts from governments, the private sector, and international organizations to provide financial support, training, and infrastructure development.
Though the IPFF program ensures that enterprises in the PURE ecosystem can access commercial capital, adopting PURE technologies still faces several challenges. These include high upfront costs, lack of awareness and technical expertise, and inadequate financing options for end users. Overcoming these barriers requires coordinated efforts from governments, the private sector, and international organizations to provide financial support, training, and infrastructure development.
To address these issues, CPI has partnered with the Global Off-Grid Lighting Association, Sustain Plus Energy Foundation, and Collectives for Integrated Livelihood Initiatives—civil society organizations each working with different stakeholders in the PURE ecosystem—to organize PURE Dialogues – Chapter 2.
The second chapter of PURE Dialogues is designed to foster collaboration among all key stakeholders within the PURE Ecosystem. This includes end users, enterprises, policymakers, and financiers, each bringing unique perspectives and challenges. PURE Dialogues Chapter 2 aims to bridge these gaps by facilitating an open dialogue among all stakeholders. This collaborative effort aims to identify actionable solutions and foster a more cohesive and resilient Ecosystem.
