Powering Livelihoods calls applications for clean energy-powered livelihood solutions

Powering Livelihoods has called for applications to offer support to enterprises deploying clean energy-based livelihood innovations.

An initiative by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and Villgro Innovations Foundation, the programme will support Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) powered technologies that have the potential to create sustainable and resilient livelihoods.

The enterprises selected will receive financial support of up to Rs 25 lakh as seed funding to focus on DRE-based non-farm and farm livelihood solutions.

The programme also includes customised gender-forward incubation, strategic mentoring, and opportunities for go-to-market partnerships to broaden market reach. It will also facilitate end-user financing for clean energy solutions.

DRE-livelihood technologies, also known as Productive Use of Renewable Energy (PURE) solutions, have a $50 billion market opportunity in India. According to a CEEW analysis, these technologies have the potential to enhance 37 million livelihoods across farm and non-farm sectors in India.

According to the press release, the programme has already witnessed the positive impact of technologies such as solar dryers, solar textile machines, and solar-powered cold storage in enhancing incomes.

Between 2020 and 2023, the programme supported 14 enterprises, facilitating around 11,500 tech deployments and empowering approximately 19,123 livelihoods, with 71% of beneficiaries being women, it noted in the press release. It raised Rs 9.75 crore in commercial fundraising.

“In the past, PL-supported enterprises witnessed 2X-8X growth in less than three years. Now, we are excited to find and support young entrepreneurs with cleantech for livelihoods to achieve impact at scale,” said Abhishek Jain, Fellow and Director, Powering Livelihoods, CEEW.

The programme is open to for-profit enterprises that have the potential to impact rural livelihoods and generate jobs.

Enterprises that leverage Renewable Energy (RE) solutions, or those willing to integrate RE into their solutions, and those with solutions to improve energy efficiency and productivity of rural livelihoods can submit applications. Additionally, women-led enterprises, enterprises with a strong gender-inclusive solution, and those willing to promote gender inclusivity through their business will be given preference.

The application window will remain open until January 15, 2024. The selected enterprises will be supported through an in-depth incubation process for three years.

Villgro will support the enterprises in scaling their business through mentoring, technical assistance and partnerships. CEEW will play a vital role in monitoring and generating evidence of the enterprises' impact and presenting the sector’s potential to policymakers and other ecosystem stakeholders.