@article{3d2cb9379a6c4c8b83af4b8d4486fc93,
title = "Evaluation of barriers and enablers through integrative multicriteria decision mapping: Developing sustainable community energy in Indian context",
abstract = "Community Energy systems are predicted to emerge as a clean and sustainable means of providing last mile energy access to off-grid communities in developing nations like India. Interestingly, rate of deployment and sustainability of such systems are low due to lack of conceptual framework determining sustainability of community energy projects with respect to inherent grassroots barriers. There is a dearth of pertinent research studies providing best practices to project planners and decision makers for accelerated deployment and sustainable operation of community microgrids. This paper aims to identify the typical grassroots barriers and their relationship with corresponding enablers under seven broad dimensions with respect to solar, biomass and micro-hydro based community energy projects. Thereby, set of critical barriers and enablers is extracted by applying integrated multi criteria decision making approach to develop decision maps and conceptual framework for realizing sustainable community energy projects. The developed decision maps offer best practices to community energy projects{\textquoteright} stakeholders to ensure sustainable project planning. The conceptual framework establishes direct and indirect relationships among significant enablers and critical barriers while providing policy implications to decision makers and utilities for achieving Universal Electrification through clean energy sources.",
keywords = "Barriers, Community energy, Enablers, Fuzzy TOPSIS, Interpretive Ranking Process, Multicriteria decision making, Prioritization, Renewable, Sustainability",
author = "Harshit Vallecha and Debraj Bhattacharjee and Osiri, {John Kalu} and Prabha Bhola",
note = "Funding Information: In countries like India, role of community renewable energy systems is not limited to providing energy access in remote and off-grid regions. In fact, these systems emerged out to be an excellent solution to provide back-up power among grid connected communities with poor availability of power supply. This is especially relevant in context of India where the bigger challenge is to ensure the continuous power supply once attaining universal electrification. However, the rate of deployment of CE systems is quite low as per their scope and relevance in providing affordable and clean energy access. In fact, there is no existing framework defining the scope and boundaries of such systems in India. Realization of CE systems requires much support beyond the financial assistance. Most of the projects require intermediaries like NGOs, state utilities, etc. for taking the initiative and securing funds. Even most of the projects are based on energy cooperative model where developers used to invest, build and operate the project and eventually transfer it to local community. Funding Information: Moreover, lack of information communication technology and digitization causes inefficient project operation and maintenance. Over the past few years, attempts of grid penetration in villages with solar microgrids have created issues with long term sustainability of microgrids as centralized grid connection wooed the consumers for its unlimited power drawing feature. Hence providing them second choice over existing microgrid infrastructure. In last few years, Government of India has launched various schemes to accelerate the deployment of grid-tied and off-grid solar power systems under INDC 2015. India has an ambitious target to attain the installed capacity of 100 GW of solar power generation by year 2022 out of which 40 GW should come from rooftop installations. Government is providing financial support to decentralized rooftop and ground mounted solar power installations under the schemes like PM-KUSUM, JNNSM, etc [ 32 ]. Such programs would have an impetus effect on development of community solar power generation in India in the coming years. However, providing merely financial support for installations would not be sufficient, the regulatory needs to formulate policies addressing the operational issues and long term sustainability of such systems. In Fig. 8 (a), it is represented how shield of enablers in inner ring deteriorates the impeding effect of barriers like, unavailability of reliable data and market uncertainties. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2020 Elsevier Ltd",
year = "2021",
month = mar,
doi = "10.1016/j.rser.2020.110565",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "138",
journal = "Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews",
issn = "1364-0321",
publisher = "Elsevier Limited",
}