Enabling energy access to everyone in rural areas must go beyond powering rural homes. Do you agree with this view? Comment (200 Words)
Refer - The Hindu
Enrich the answer from other sources, if the question demands.
IAS Parliament 3 years
KEY POINTS
· Credible estimates suggest a near doubling of electrified rural households, from 55% in 2010 to 96% in 2020 (World Bank, 2021).
· The Rajasthan Electricity Regulatory Commission (RERC) has ordered the State’s three power distribution companies to solarise unelectrified public schools.
· This has the potential to electrify about 1,500 government-run schools in the remote parts of the State with roof-top solar panels and generate about 15 megawatts (MW) of power.
· Schools could also extend power supply to mid-day meal kitchens, toilets, and motorised water pumps and not limit it to powering fans and lights in classrooms.
· The RERC order also directs Rajasthan’s cash-strapped discoms to seek corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds for the solarising drive and allows schools ownership of the power systems in a phased manner.
· Taking a cue from the RERC ruling, a greater number of public buildings could be used to install roof-top solar panels.
· Buildings such as primary health centres, panchayat offices, railway stations and bus stops could easily be transitioned to utilising clean energy.
· As solar installations become inexpensive and with rapidly advancing battery storage technologies, decentralised solar power generation has become a reality.
· One of the hurdles to holistic, climate resilient, clean energy access is the lack of convergence between government departments.
