MNRE Framework for DRE Livelihood Applications

• Framework published Feb 2022 by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy

• Annex 1 has a list of DRE products and Annex 2 has a list of schemes / subsidies for such technologies

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Some excerpts

• “DRE livelihood applications can be defined as applications powered by renewable energy - solar, wind, micro-hydro, biomass & their combinations, which are used for earning livelihoods directly such as solar dryers, solar mills, solar or biomass powered cold storage/chiller, solar charkha and looms, small-scale biomass briquette/pellet-making machines, etc

• The main objective of this framework is to facilitate development of an enabling ecosystem for widespread adoption of DRE for sustainable livelihood in the country

• Piloting and field demonstration of new DRE livelihood applications is vital to ascertain the success of any technology innovation on the ground. Pilots can be taken up in various sectors such as textile, animal husbandry, agriculture, carpentry, pottery, cottage industry, black-smithy, food industry etc. with a focus on reliable and affordable DRE applications. In line with the Guidelines issued by MNRE for innovative solar pumps, similar modalities may be worked-out to run pilot projects under the existing or new schemes. An evidence-based approach, in line with established research and successful business models, capturing the social, economic and environmental impacts, may be taken up for upscaling existing technologies.

• In partnership with financial institutions, a financing facility offering a first loss default guarantee with partial risk coverage to facilitate access to credit for entrepreneurs and end-users would be worked out. With this facility in place, financial institutions may explore the development of collateral-free financial products to help meet short-term financing requirements of enterprises as well as stipulate minimum tenure for various values of loan to end-users to ensure repayments are aligned with additional income of the end-users. Such facility would encourage financing to women endusers, self-help groups and collectives. Other state nodal agencies such as State Rural Livelihoods Missions (SRLMs) can leverage their existing institutional setup to provide financial support for the women self-help group members; thereby scaling up the DRE livelihood applications. Acquisition of assets is particularly challenging for micro-businesses, marginalized groups and women. Therefore, enterprises with OPEX-based financial models such as pay-as-you-go and rental models may also be supported for credit facilitation.

• Efforts will be made for developing and implementing skills and training programs for DRE livelihood applications with Skill Council for Green Jobs, IITs promoting technology led development, National Institute for Rural Development and other organizations of stakeholder Ministries/ Departments. In addition, efforts will also be done with the governing bodies of other sector skill councils to integrate training curriculum and modules for DRE technologies across sectors such as agriculture and allied activities, textiles, food processing, etc. SRLMs will be coordinated to train SHG women for providing after-sales and repair service at the local level, and thereby facilitate in creating green jobs. In addition to this, existing community-level institutional platforms, such as SHG federation, FPOs, KVKs etc., will be mobilized with the support of technology providers to build the capacity of potential users and buyers on basic troubleshooting of the equipment to boost adoption of DRE technologies