Beyond its environmental contributions, India’s renewable energy sector is also making strides in economic empowerment, particularly for women. A notable example is the Solar Urja Lamps project in Dungarpur, Rajasthan, which provides an affordable and sustainable solar lighting solution to the region.
ALSO READ: Economic Survey 2025 | Female self-employed workers earn just a third of their male counterpartsThrough this initiative, women from self-help groups (SHGs) were trained and mentored to become solar entrepreneurs. This led to the establishment of five solar shops and employment for 83 women, who assembled, sold, and maintained 40,000 solar lamps. This project helped these women earn ₹5,000 to ₹6,000 per month, significantly improving their financial independence and contributing to their families’ income.
Similarly, the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet (GEAPP) has launched programmes to support women-led enterprises in the renewable energy sector. Collaborating with the rural livelihood mission in Uttar Pradesh, GEAPP aims to solarise 50,000 women-run businesses by 2025, with plans to reach 100,000 by 2027 and 500,000 by 2030. This initiative seeks to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on rural women, many of whom face economic instability and climate-related disasters.
However, challenges remain. Women in rural areas continue to face technological, financial, and socio-cultural barriers, such as limited access to financing, inefficient energy solutions, and gender-biased tools. These challenges are particularly pronounced in remote and hilly regions, where market access and mobility are restricted.ALSO READ: Economic Survey 2025 | Farmers in focus: More credit, higher MSP, and a push for sustainability
To overcome these barriers, Decentralised Renewable Energy (DRE) solutions, particularly solar energy, offer promising opportunities for women entrepreneurs. These technologies can empower women across various sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, dairy farming, textiles, and micro-enterprises.
One successful example is the SELCO Foundation, which has empowered over 6,200 women across 24 states in farming, food processing, and digital services. SELCO has helped these women improve their livelihoods and economic participation by providing energy-efficient technologies, affordable financing, and training.
In North Karnataka, solar-powered processing units have boosted the incomes of women farmers engaged in millet cultivation. Similarly, in Odisha, the Boipariguda-Sabujima FPO, under the state’s Millet Mission, has implemented solar-powered processing to enhance the value of local produce while reducing costs.
DRE solutions lower energy costs and increase women’s productivity and economic participation, helping bridge gender gaps in rural economies. With the right policies, resources, and technologies, India’s renewable energy sector—led by hydropower and supported by solar innovations—can potentially transform women’s lives across the country.
These initiatives enable women to break free from traditional economic roles, contributing to India’s green energy transition and empowering them to play a central role in the country’s sustainable future.
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