Date of Award
2025
Document Type
Open Access Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy in Environmental and Energy Policy (PhD)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Social Sciences
Advisor 1
Mark Rouleau
Committee Member 1
Roman Sidortsov
Committee Member 2
Angie Carter
Committee Member 3
Jayendran Venkateswaran
Abstract
India’s transition to renewable energy has prioritized large-scale, grid-based electrification, often overlooking energy equity, particularly in rural communities. Many households would benefit more from decentralized solutions than from grid extension, yet current policies neither guarantee equitable access nor address pre-existing social and economic inequalities in energy distribution. This dissertation examines the sensitivity of India’s renewable energy policies to energy equity, with a specific focus on gender equity in rural last-mile connectivity. The study is guided by the fundamental question: How can implementation of solar energy program alleviate the lives of rural communities? Using a mixed-method approach that combines policy analysis with an ethnographic case study of a community solar program in Jharkhand, this research investigates the impact of small-scale solar home lighting systems (SHLS) on energy access and gender equity. The findings suggest that SHLS can mitigate gendered disparities in energy access, but only within a policy environment that incentivizes NGOs to implement community-scale programs. This research emphasizes the need for Indian energy policy to integrate equity and justice by fostering effective collaboration between state and non-state actors. Additionally, it highlights how cultural and social identities such as gender, ethnicity, and economic class shape access to energy services. By prioritizing energy equity in policy planning, strengthening NGO-government coordination, and addressing gender disparities, this dissertation offers insights for advancing a just and inclusive energy transition.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Chakrabarty, Aritra, "ENERGY EQUITY IN INDIA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY TRANSITION: A POLICY DESIGN AGENDA", Open Access Dissertation, Michigan Technological University, 2025.
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