Localized Energy Self-sufficiency (Energy Swaraj) for Energy Sustainability and Mitigating Climate Change

Mitigating climate change is one of the major global concerns of the twenty-first century. Increasing energy consumption and dependence on conventional fuels is the primary challenge to contain global warming. The world needs to switch toward renewable energy sources and utilize energy efficiently for sustainability and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this context, decentralized renewable energy access based on the Gandhian principle “-not mass production but production by the masses” would be useful for energy sustainability and to address United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The authors present a conceptual model wherein local communities get involved in generating and fulfilling their own energy needs which is technically feasible and economically viable. Based on this approach, Solar Urja through Localization for Sustainability (SoULS) initiative is implemented in rural areas of nine states in India to provide clean, affordable, reliable, and complete energy access. Local people are trained to own, manage, and operate solar enterprises at every level including assembly, distribution, after-sales service, and manufacturing to create solar energy ecosystem by locals for locals. The SoULS project at IIT Bombay has demonstrated that by involving local community in fulfilling their energy needs, growth can be observed across other dimensions of development including social, economic, environment, institution, and technology. Preliminary field findings from impact analysis of the implementation are discussed. This paper presents the conceptual model of localized energy self-sufficiency (LESS) or Energy Swaraj approach and brings the idea of how the deployment of renewable energy technologies can become sustainable over time.