The article examines several ways in which small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can stimulate and integrate the use of renewable energy technologies, while acknowledging the need to address financial constraints.
14 September 2012: A new article by the South Asia Regional Programme Manager of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), titled “Promoting Clean Energy Business Models in Small and Medium Enterprises,” shows the potential of renewable energy technologies for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), with a focus on India.
The article uses examples of several business models to show how SMEs can be nurtured using renewable energy technologies as well as how SMEs further stimulate renewables use. The examples, drawn from the Indian experience, refer to, inter alia, linking renewable energy technologies to different businesses that support livelihood in rural areas, and the integration of such technologies into production processes to increase productivity and income. The article acknowledges that the switching costs to renewable energy technologies are usually considered too high for SMEs and that institutional investors and governments can play a crucial role in overcoming such barriers by providing financial incentives and relief.
The article was featured in the “Asia Pacific Tech Monitor.” [REEEP Press Release][Publication: Promoting Clean Energy Business Models in Small and Medium Enterprises]