Smart Power India

Established in 2015 by The Rockefeller Foundation, Smart Power India (SPI) is the key agency implementing the Smart Power Initiative in India. SPI extends power to those without sufficient energy access, with the goal of ending energy poverty and transforming the livelihoods of the underserved. SPI accomplishes its goals through impact-driven rural electrification coupled with capacity-building programs. SPI’s vision is to spur economic development in villages through access to reliable electricity. Through decentralized renewable energy(DRE) mini-grids, Smart Power India has provided electricity to 473 villages in India across the states of U.P. Bihar and Jharkhand, impacting over 3,51,652 people and is serving over 2,412 electricity-based micro-enterprises which have been directly incubated by SPI across these 473 villages SPI has supported the mini-grid sector’s policy engagement to align incentives between government, investors, and ESCOs. SPI also works with the government in improving the quality and reliability parameters of on-grid electricity. Through rural microenterprise development, Smart Power India is creating economic opportunities and overall growth for village-level entrepreneurs including women. SPI is advocating an energy services framework that promotes and builds strategic public-private partnerships to ensure the viability and reliability of the electricity supply. SPI has also contributed to improvement in socio-economic outcomes for communities in rural India and catalyzing economic growth by providing reliable electricity access to rural businesses, especially women entrepreneurs, irrigation plants, healthcare facilities, schools, and institutions.