Eco-Enterprises, Policies and Institutional Setup for RHEES - North East India

Abstract

The paper presents a possible approach to address India’s formidable challenge of ensuring security of access to modern energy carriers to the majority of its rural population. This study presents a case study of the selection methodology, implementation strategies for setting up Energy Eco-enterprise in North-East, India under RHEES. The RHEES (Rural Hybrid Energy Enterprise Systems) approach aims at designing and implementing a ‘participatory’ process of capturing the perception of rural end-users on all the aspects of energy and associated benefits as well as seeking their inputs for energy access induced empowerment and long-term sustainability. In addition, the paper provides an insight into the profitability of such eco-enterprises using existing business models which support sustainability in renewable energy generation, distribution, use and develop new entrepreneurial modes which prioritize and enable production and fair marketing of value-added by-products as well as carbon credits to local, national and international markets.