Sustainable energy for all challenges: Opportunities & best practices in South Asia

Globally, over 1.2 billion people do not have access to electricity and over 1.8 billion people depend on biomass as fuel for cooking in traditional stoves. While new policies are being developed, South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa will continue to have highest number of under-served population in 2030 unless appropriate institutional, financial and technical models are adopted to increase the access to energy in these regions. While, grid electrification has been the predominant mode for electrification in most of the countries of South Asian region, renewable energy based off-grid technologies have also been disseminated extensively in many places in the regions. The case of IDCOL solar home systems program, solar mini/micro grid program in India and Lighting a Billion Lives program of TERI are notable example of successful off-grid programs in South Asia. This paper presents energy scenario and energy security in south Asia. The development of off-grid rural electrification through renewable energy is analyzed. The experiences and lessons presented here, can contribute for the better program designing and policy making to achieve sustainable energy for all in the region.