Impact case study database

The research on mini-grids at DMU has generated significant socio-economic and environmental impacts at three levels (local, national and international) as highlighted below.

(1) LOCAL LEVEL IMPACTS

Action research undertaken through OASYS South Asia project has produced wide-ranging impacts beyond academic knowledge creation. A brief summary of social, environmental and economic impacts follows.

Social impact

The project has impacted 5,000 rural households directly and reduced their dependence on kerosene. For example, in Dhenkanal site, kerosene consumption was reduced by half – from 7l per household per month to 3.50l [C1]. Similarly, pico-grid users of Mlinda have reported a reduction of kerosene use from 3l to 1.50l per month, resulting in a saving of 75% in kerosene expenditure [C2]. Women are a direct beneficiary here – lights in the kitchen make cooking easier [C2].

Access to light has improved the quality of life of the communities. In the Mlinda intervention area, electricity has reached schools and shops as well as households. Shops are using electricity for 3 to 6 hours per day, allowing for business after dark. Light in the evening has allowed pupils to read 2 to 3 hours at night [C1, C2] and helped womenfolk to continue with their handicraft work. Streetlights in the site have instilled a better sense of security in the villages.

Reduced kerosene use has mitigated health hazards and safety risks. Improved roads have made it easier to take patients to hospitals and the local community health staff have started to visit the villages at the Dhenkanal site [C1].

Electrification of a school in the Dhenkanal site and another in the Kandhamal site has contributed to better education, and pupils in electrified villages are taking more interest in their studies. A teacher in Baguli village in Dhenkanal revealed that ‘Children come prepared to class now, they study at home under light.’ Earlier that wasn’t the case and they ‘used to never do their homework’ [C1].

Environmental impact

Four demonstration projects have saved kerosene consumption between 90,000l and 150,000l per year. This resulted in a carbon saving between 225t and 375t of CO₂ per year [C3]. In addition, the availability of clean electricity has reduced local pollution in terms of smoke, fumes and particulate matter.

Economic impacts

The availability of electricity is supporting income generation prospects in the villages. Some 60% of the shops electrified through pico-grids in the Mlinda intervention area reported an increase in income and 67% of those reporting an increase in profit attributed this to electricity access [C2]. The social enterprises Mlinda Foundation and Mera Gao Power received support from the project, which has allowed them to grow their business activities and reach their targets [C4]. Similarly, the complex project has given experience to the EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contractor, Onergy Solar, to become a mature player in the sector [C5], although the economic benefit is difficult to estimate in monetary terms.

(2) MACRO-LEVEL IMPACTS

The research led to a follow-up advisory project with DFID India led by Prof. Bhattacharyya, which resulted in the development of the DFID investment programme, DREAM (2016–2020) [C6]. In addition, the Government of India has prepared a Guideline for Development of Decentralised Solar Power Plants [C7] based on the project report and the subsequent publication by Bhattacharyya et al. [R6].

(3) INTERNATIONAL IMPACTS

The research and debates on mini-grids have been shaped and influenced by the work reported here. Chapters of two books from the OASYS South Asia project have been downloaded many times: 25,000 downloads for ‘Mini-Grids for Rural Electrification of Developing Countries’ and 17,000 downloads for ‘Rural Electrification Through Decentralised Off-grid Systems in Developing Countries’. The paper by Sen and Bhattacharyya [R6] has been cited more than 305 times according to the Scopus database. Professor Bhattacharyya has been appointed as the adviser for the Springer Sustainable Development Goals Series (for subseries SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy).

The OASYS South Asia project has also received two awards: the Green Gown Award 2015 for Community Innovation at the national level and at the international level. The judges highlight that: ‘This is an innovative project that aims to empower and improve the lives of off-grid rural communities with real scope for expansion’ [C8]. The project was one of the three shortlisted projects for the Energy Institute Award for 2020 in the Energy Access category.

The work has featured in the media: BBC Futures has carried a story based on off-grid systems where Bhattacharyya has been cited [C9] while the New Scientist has also carried a story and interview [C10].