Transforming rural lives through decentralized green power

India has been pursuing non-conventional sources of energy for various applications for a long time now. Several technologies—solar heating, solar photovoltaic, biomass, wind—have been demonstrated over the years. Currently, renewable sources of energy make up for about 5% of grid electricity produced in the country. This is impressive growth compared to 2.7% that is contributed by nuclear energy despite huge investments made in that sector. Despite the growing contribution of renewables to the national power kitty, about 125,000 or 21% villages remain in dark and not all households have power in the villages electrified. While the government efforts continue to spread solar and biomass based lighting, heating and power systems in villages, efforts in the non-governmental sector have shown that decentralized, off-grid power generation through biomass-based gasifiers and solar photovoltaics offers a viable, long-term solution to rural electrification. Though government policies now recognize decentralized power generation, they do not see it as a preferred mode of rural electrification nor do they foresee a major role for voluntary agencies and people's organizations in decentralized power generation through renewable sources. While technology has shown the way, right policy initiatives and enabling environment are lacking to use decentralized power generation through renewables as an input in overall development process.