Title: A coevolutionary perspective on decentralised electrification: a solar mini-grid project in India

Authors: Karnamadakala Rahul Sharma; Debajit Palit

Addresses: Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Bren Hall, 2400 University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA ' The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, IHC Complex, Lodhi Road, New Delhi – 110 003, India

Abstract: Decentralised mini-grids can support household electrification needs in remote rural communities in developing countries. Adopting a practice-oriented perspective to research, we describe our experience in implementing a decentralised solar mini-grid project in India over a period of three years. Focusing on processes, we demonstrate how technical design, organisational mandates and project contingencies coevolve with business strategies, user practices, local institutions and ecosystems. Recognising and facilitating coevolution between systems can have important causal impacts on project outcomes. In our case, the project deviates from the original blueprint towards a higher technical design value, service-based tariffs, and greater time and resource investment by the implementing agency. The coevolutionary perspective has been used previously as an analytical tool. We propose here that it can also serve as a practical how-to guide for micro-level projects by alerting implementers to the requirements of greater time, resources and community engagement.

Keywords: rural electrification; coevolution; electricity access; mini-grids; solar energy; decentralised electricity systems.

DOI: 10.1504/IJSSOC.2020.109773

International Journal of Sustainable Society, 2020 Vol.12 No.3, pp.202 - 219

Received: 10 Dec 2019
Accepted: 01 Mar 2020
Published online: 23 Sep 2020 *

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