Women Solar Entrepreneurs Transforming Bihar's Energy Landscape

Amidst the scorching heat of May, a momentary relief breezes over Rajgir, an ancient town surrounded by five imposing hills in the Nalanda district of Bihar. A few metres away from the Rajgir bus stand, Renu Devi’s hotel stirs to life as the rush hour begins. Inside, four people–two of her sons, the others her trusted employees–have started soaking ghugni and preparing the flour for litti chokha. The aroma of freshly brewed chai wafts in the summer air, drawing in half-awake customers from the nearby sub-divisional office seeking their morning refreshments.

They are greeted by the soft light of two bulbs illuminating the otherwise shadowy room, powered by three solar panels on the hotel’s rooftop. The panels offer a glimpse into Renu Devi’s innovative approach to hospitality in the heart of Bihar.

According to the most recent data from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Bihar reached a renewable energy production capacity of 450.15 MW on April 30, 2024, with solar energy contributing 239.23 MW. This progress comes in the wake of the Bihar Renewable Energy Policy 2017, which set an ambitious target of achieving an installed capacity of 2,969 MW of solar energy by 2022. Despite falling far short of this target, Bihar’s strides in renewable energy contribute to India’s overall achievement of 82.64 GW of solar energy capacity on April 30, 2024.

The total installed capacity of various types of solar power in Bihar on April 30, 2024

Source: https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3716e1b8c6cd17b771da77391355749f3/uploads/2024/05/202405102037989377.pdf

Renu Devi opened her hotel in 2013, but she invested in three solar panels only six months ago. These panels now efficiently power two bulbs, two fans, and a fridge. As a member of BRLPS-JEEViKA (Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society- JEEViKA), a microfinance initiative in Bihar, Devi learned about solar-powered products and obtained them at a subsidised rate. The solar panels, which cost around Rs 1,80,000 together, were procured by Renu Devi for Rs 1,08,000, with an additional installation charge of Rs 800.

“Our head at JEEViKA explained that solar panels work from sunlight and would help us save a lot, especially on the electricity bill. I had never seen anything like that before, so I was initially confused. But after a lot of convincing, I decided to buy it. It intrigued other didis (sisters) there too. It turned out to be a big help for my business. The electricity bill used to be around Rs 1,700-1,800 per month, but now it is only around Rs 600-700,” Devi said.

Devi added that government-provided electricity had been very irregular. With solar energy, the hotel can access stable electricity, preventing food from spoiling and storing ingredients longer, resulting in increased profits.

According to the World Bank, Bihar’s power sector, plagued by poor infrastructure, limited finances, and a widening supply-demand gap, is among the worst in India. However, Bihar’s solar and biomass potential makes the state a laboratory for micro-grid solutions, leading some parties to suggest that one pathway forward for electrification in Bihar could comprise a state-wide network of decentralised energy plants (standalone and micro-grids) developed with support from state government agencies in collaboration with private entrepreneurs.

Types of Renewable Power in Bihar and their total installed capacity on April 30. 2024

Source: https://cdnbbsr.s3waas.gov.in/s3716e1b8c6cd17b771da77391355749f3/uploads/2024/05/202405102037989377.pdf

Devi’s transition to solar energy has resulted in savings of more than Rs 1,000 each month. The hotel is her family’s sole source of income. She is now considering extending the benefits of solar energy to her home. Despite power cuts, she thinks this will enable her children to study at night.

Driving Agricultural Prosperity through Solar Entrepreneurship

Around 60 kilometres from Rajgir, in the Gaya district of Bihar, Neelam Kumari, a 32-year-old farmer, and her 35-year-old husband, Chottan Kumar, have turned their modest farming venture into a family affair, supporting a household of seven.

In 2016, Neelam Kumari transformed a small piece of land in her backyard by installing ten solar panels. This addition significantly impacted her farm and personal fruit garden, producing healthier and more profitable produce.

“I used to regularly visit the block panchayat, where numerous advisors from the government’s agriculture department were present to assist farmers. There, I learned about the “Pehle Aao, Pehle Pao” scheme. Under this programme, one person was selected from each panchayat to receive solar panels. I was fortunate to be chosen,” she said.

“Pehle Aao Pehle Pao”—literally translated as “First Come, First Served”—was a scheme initiated by the Government of Bihar to expedite the allocation of land or other resources to beneficiaries on a priority basis. This scheme ensured that those who applied early would receive services or benefits promptly, including installing solar panels. This initiative aimed to promote the use of renewable energy and improve access to electricity in rural and remote areas.

“Officials from BREDA (Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency) came to install the solar panels. First, they informed me that I had been selected for the scheme. Later, they requested a payment of Rs 60,000,” Kumari added.

After payment, the panels were installed in Neelam Kumari’s home within ten days. Subsequently, she emphasises the shift in her electricity expenses. Previously, she had to allocate Rs 500-600 monthly for electricity bills. Now, however, she incurs no such expense. Neelam harnesses solar energy not only for her farming activities but also for her household needs. Her reliance on solar power extends to lighting, battery usage, and other essentials, rendering her almost entirely independent of traditional electrical sources.

Neelam Kumari cultivates various crops, including vegetables, rice, wheat, mustard, chickpeas, pulses, and maise, and sells her produce in the nearby Vishun Ganj bazaar. She recalls her challenges, waiting for electricity to irrigate her fields. Frequent and prolonged power outages often result in crop damage due to drying and rotting.

A report stated that rural India has seen a rise in decentralised enterprises providing off-grid solar solutions in response to unreliable electricity supply. These include solar photovoltaic products such as lamps, lanterns, and mobile chargers with capacities from 1W to 5W, as well as solar home lighting systems up to 100W.

“Now, I can irrigate the fields whenever necessary,” she explains. This newfound flexibility has significantly reduced losses.

Utilising the ten solar panels, Neelam efficiently irrigates her fields, requiring approximately 1-2 hours to irrigate a plot of 1 kattha (50 square metres). Additionally, she uses solar energy to power household appliances such as a fridge, TV, and fan. Looking ahead, she plans to extend this sustainable practice by installing solar panels in her new house in Vishun Ganj bazaar.

Empowering Women Solar Entrepreneurs: J-WiRES’ Impact on Rural Bihar

Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), locally known as JEEViKA, was established in 2006 under the Department of Rural Development of the Government of Bihar with the assistance of the World Bank. It has empowered around 8 million rural women through self-help groups (SHG) and their federations, which are small units of a large SHG.

In January 2020, J-WiRES, a community-owned and JEEViKA-promoted company, was launched in Dobhi in the Gaya district of Bihar. It aims to create a solar ecosystem and provide livelihood opportunities for SHG women through individual solar shops and group enterprises.

Under BRLPS-JEEViKA, J-WiRES offers solar-powered products such as torches, panels, bulbs, refrigerators, plates, solar reeling, and machines. Employing over 60 women, it has approximately 400 solar shops across Bihar. J-WiRES procures solar projects from government and private partners, such as IIT Bombay, TERI, Oxfam, CEEW, Oxfam India, Selco, etc, ensuring cost-effective solutions and services.

A report by the Council for Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) highlights women’s engagement in the clean energy sector across three key areas: as entrepreneurs offering energy products and services, as employees or partners in renewable energy enterprises, and as micro-enterprise owners who utilise energy products and services across various sectors.

In 2017, Jeevika collaborated with IIT Bombay to train 1,400 SHG women to assemble and distribute solar lamps to 1.8 million students. This effort expanded to include 900 repair and maintenance centres, evolving into solar marts for enterprise development. By 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, J-Wires emerged, earning the women the title ‘Solar Didi.’

Sanju Devi, one of the four directors on the board of J-Wires, emphasised, “Our company is entirely women-run, from technicians to board members. There’s a notable shift among women in embracing renewable energy solutions. For example, some women who opened their solar shops through J-Wires had never stepped outside their homes.”

She explained that J-Wires remains committed to women partners throughout the process—from sales to subsequent repair or maintenance needs. She highlighted that products are offered at wholesale prices with subsidies, allowing women to sell them at market rates and earn profits.

Aarti Kumari, 28, from Bhagwati village in Gaya, joined JEEViKA in 2017. She oversaw the solar lamps project as centre in-charge and participated in lamp assembly at J-Wires. In 2021, during the pandemic lockdown, she opened her solar mart near her village. Offering a range of J-Wires products alongside other household items, she makes a profit by selling solar study lamps, LED bulbs, inverters, torches, and more. Leveraging her technical training from J-Wires, she can also repair products. Despite leaving her previous role at J-Wires due to motherhood, Aarti earns a monthly profit of Rs 5,000-6,000 from her shop.

The Issues Ailing Women-led Solar Ventures

Two years ago, one of Neelam Devi’s ten solar panels was damaged following a heavy windstorm. Despite promptly filing a complaint during the warranty period, she laments that the issue remains unresolved to this day, with no response received.

“Today, beyond the warranty period, I’m uncertain about the next steps. The prolonged maintenance delay is quite concerning. We had ten panels producing 200 watts of electricity each. With one panel damaged, our energy output has significantly decreased, preventing us from utilising its full capacity,” said Neelam Devi.

Despite available technology solutions for solar energy, rural low-income households face issues like affordability, lack of trust, awareness of technology, supply options, reparability, and poor product quality.

More capital is needed to integrate solar energy into potential women entrepreneurs’ ventures. Sunita Devi, 45, is a neighbour of Neelam Devi and often visits her house. “I am a smallholder farmer. My income is limited. I have been wanting to install solar panels like Neelam, but the subsidy is lower than before, and I cannot afford the high cost of it. I also don’t have enough land for this.”

According to a report, local entrepreneurs primarily providing solar energy and technologies grapple with underlying social, economic, and technological hurdles. These include access to capital, low financial gains, low customer paying capacity, inadequate exposure to technology, market access, lack of credit lines from suppliers, and insufficient institutional support, including training and handholding.

Furthermore, a report by CEEW emphasises that approximately 54 per cent of micro-enterprises led by women are not officially registered. The financial system initially presents hurdles for women seeking loans, as registration, collateral, margin money, and doubts about repayment capabilities create barriers. Additionally, financiers’ lack of familiarity and confidence in financing energy products exacerbates the challenge.

“To foster an ecosystem where women can thrive as entrepreneurs, the government should not only implement supportive policies but also facilitate access to capital for these women,” said Dr Chetan Singh Solanki, founder of the Energy Swaraj Foundation and professor at the Department of Energy Science and Engineering, IIT Bombay.

He added, “Self-help groups (SHGs) are a valuable network that provides capital, but their interest rates are often prohibitively high. Instead of subsidising the products, the government could subsidise the interest rates on loans provided to women entrepreneurs.”

Overall, while issues such as inconsistent maintenance services and financial constraints persist, women entrepreneurs in Bihar continue to leverage the benefits of solar energy in their enterprises. For instance, in 2023, a survey under the Bolega Bihar initiative, supported by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW), revealed a significant rise in awareness of decentralised renewable energy (DRE) among women entrepreneurs in Nalanda and Gaya districts. The awareness level surged from 25% to 76%, highlighting the state’s potential for implementing DRE solutions.

This story was produced with support from Internews’ Earth Journalism Network.