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Since the beginning, Auroville has been involved
in the research and implementation of renewable energy systems. Interest
in these systems developed out of sheer necessity to secure energy for
living and day-to-day activities. Interested persons carried on with the
improvement of the devices, and those activities led to the formation of
units involved in R&D, the manufacturing and the promotion of the
different renewable energy devices. Today, Auroville is recognised in
India as a 'testing' centre for a wide variety of renewable energy
technologies.
Present situation in India
India is blessed with abundant sunshine and wind,
and though the government is implementing one of the world's largest
programmes in renewable energy it will hardly reduce the anticipated
shortfalls generated under conventional energy sources. Budgetary
allocations for promotion of renewable energy are still too low (0.8% of
total funds allocated to the energy sector in the eighth Five Year Plan
from '92 to '97) compared to conventional energy sources that operate
with huge subsidies from the government. Investment from industries in
research and development of renewable energy is insufficient to make a
difference both in quality and quantity. Financing and end-user
acceptability are still considered major barriers. Considering all these
points it is normal that the promotion and the development of renewable
energy sources is still considered as a frontier adventure.
In order to counterbalance the substantial
government subsidies to the conventional energy sector, the Indian
Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA) offers programmes under
which subsidies, soft loans and tax benefits are made available to
renewable energy users.
Aurore Trust, the commercial outlet of CSR,
is involved in the promotion and implementation of renewable energy
systems in Auroville and India by availing of these financial facilities
on behalf of interested end-user groups and institutions.
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