%0 PDF %T Surya's Promise: The Scaling-Up (or not) of Off-Grid Solar Technologies in India %A Singh, Kartikeya. %D 2017-04-25T15:18:41.806Z %8 2017-04-25 %R http://localhost/files/st74d309w %X Abstract: India is a country where 300 million people still live without access to formal grid electricity, and where hundreds of millions more live with irregular supply through the existing grid network. This dissertation unravels the various factors that can influence unit scaling, understood for the purposes of this study as widespread diffusion of off-grid solar technologies, to help policy makers and financial institutions to mobilize efforts to effectively bring millions of people out of the dark. To research this topic, an in-country survey of 69 off-grid solar energy providers from across the nation was conducted. Findings from that survey reveal that most off-grid solar energy enterprises are operating without the benefit of government subsidies and that more than half do not offer any form of financing to their customers when selling their products. Despite the lack of financing provided by the firms themselves, their combined off-grid solar product sales equal over 8.5 million units. More than half of the enterprises are selling their products in regions where the electric grid is present. Analysis of data collected suggests that an increase in product categories (lanterns, solar home lighting systems (SHS), micro-grids, etc.) sold by a given firm negatively affects unit scaling, or the total number of products sold, for a firm but increases the likelihood that the firm is offering financing for its products. The study thus concludes that to simply scale in number of units of products sold, a firm should focus on fewer product categories. A deeper exploration on the question of finance - through interviews with firms, customers, informal sales agents - reveals that lack of adequate government-supported financing for the end user, often cited as the main barrier to the diffusion of the technologies, may be a less important factor than previously thought. For the customer, often the factors associated with the decision to purchase are more important than the ability to pay. Purchasing decisions are influenced by experience with a product, association with a sales agent or company, and/or exposure to technology through others in the community. Innovative business models can both make products more affordable (addressing the end users' ability to pay) and more accessible (addressing their decision to purchase ). Thus chapter III suggests that the focus of finance should be for these innovative firms which are currently in need of capital to help scale-up their businesses. Finally, chapter IV explores the case of Green Light Planet, a firm that may hold the key to scaling-up the diffusion of off-grid solar technologies in the developing world. The paper reveals that the company's business model innovation relies on networks of sales agents operating under a system of sales targets, incentives, and boosters to conduct high volumes of sales.; Thesis (Ph.D.)--Tufts University, 2017.; Submitted to the Dept. of Diplomacy, History, and Politics.; Advisor: Kelly Sims Gallagher.; Committee: Jenny Aker, and Ambuj Sagar.; Keywords: Energy, and Climate change. %[ 2022-10-11 %9 Text %~ Tufts Digital Library %W Institution