Augmenting the diffusion of solar home systems for rural electrification: An Indian perspective

Augmenting the diffusion of solar home systems for rural electrification: An Indian perspective

Manchanda, Gaurav (TU Delft Applied Sciences)

Kamp, L.M. (mentor)
Ortt, J.R. (graduation committee)

Delft University of Technology

Electrical Engineering | Sustainable Energy Technology

2017-08-24

300 million people in India do not have access to electricity and are suffering from a multitude of socio-economic problems which include poverty, weak education, poor health and low spending incomes. One of the most efficient and feasible electricity solutions is via solar energy. Multiple companies are offering such off-grid solutions in India and other developing countries. These companies face several barriers during the implementation process which has dampened the diffusion of the products provided by them. The need for a sustainable business model is felt in this sector to scale up the market. The objective of this research is to augment the diffusion of solar home systems for rural electrification in India. This is done by doing an extensive literature study, case study interviews and field study in India on barriers faced and strategies employed in the market and identification of the business model elements. This thesis presents us an enriched list of barriers and strategies and a detailed analysis of the linkage between strategies and the elements of the business model canvas. The BMC is used as an analysis tool to understand the effect of strategies explicitly and is expressed in the form of a matrix where the implications of strategies on the business model canvas are identified for each element.
The contribution of this research to science is the linkage between strategies and the business model canvas elements. The implications of strategies on the business model canvas are identified for each element. Another scientific contribution of this research is the adaptation of Ortt et al. framework which can now be used for the diffusion of solar home systems in a developing country like India whereas the original Ortt et al. framework can be utilized only for dissemination of high-tech products in the developed nations. The future scope of research in this field has multiple dimensions to offer. Firstly, the relationship between barriers, strategies and business model elements can be further explored where the strategy definition can be enriched. Secondly, a qualitative and quantitative analysis can be performed on the strategy-BMC linkage matrix. This will give a richer meaning to the implications. Thirdly, a comprehensive business model can be generated by building the elements based on the strategy-BMC implications.

solar home system
barrier
strategy
business model canvas
strategy-BMC linkage

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:d9805cc2-24fe-4c47-95a2-5b91e4a5a115

28.7041, 77.1025

Student theses

master thesis

© 2017 Gaurav Manchanda