Starting from the bottom of

the income pyramid (BoP)

A presentation for WAME

Expo Milano 2015. June 17.
Role of :
Renewable Energy, Technology & Innovation

By Shyama V. Ramani
UNU-MERIT
&
Friend In Need India

Base of the Pyramid (BOP) Reality

Lack access to electricity or reliable electricity

Use of biomass fuels for cooking walking to get the wood

Lack of access to water or safe drinking water walking to get water

Lack of access or lower preference for toilets & waste management

Lack of education

Lack of healthcare

UNITED NATIONS MILLENIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Why do we need to change the BOP reality?

Because its not fair or just that people should live without
basics?No, this is just a little bit of the explanation

It is because we all have a LOT to gain from changing the BoP

reality

We can get a warm glow from doing good

Companies can increase their profit by selling to them

Companies can improve their sustainability capital ..mainstream

consumers will be loyal and tend to buy from companies which
are doing good in the long run

We can all learn from serving themeven companies.

And thus changing the BoP reality is a SMART way to fight

polarization, targeted hatred against groups, distress emigration,
terrorism and climate change

From Energy, poverty and development UNDP (2010)

Where are
the energy
poor?

Wheres energy in the BoP

markets?
- Improving the Quality of
Life of the 4 bn people
living in poverty through
innovative solutions and comprehensive business
models:
- not charity
- creating value for
business and society
through multi-sector
collaboration
5

Source : IFC World bank group (2006) The Next Four Billion

Sun - the fabulous renewable source & my Solar Saga.

Installation of the Solar drier in Kameswaram beach

September 2008

Training fisherwomen thereafter

A Fence is needed ! And a Lock ! And Ownership Rights !

By 2009 a new safety hazard in the village

2011-2013

Moral of the story..for renewable energy for the BoP..

Go through the checklist for successful diffusion

Technology design
innovation satisfies
technological and social
appropriateness

Social
protocols

Confirm need
Confirm/Create
demand

Delivery design
Available
Accessible
Affordable

Confirm
sustained use
Confirm
adoption and
growth

Context requirements
Adequate knowledge
and skills to use
innovation
Supporting financial
schemes
Maintenance services
Incentive schemes for
sustained use and
continuous innovation
Regulation to ensure safety
11

Mirror Mirror on the wall which is the

best innovation of them all?
P.S.- for the BoP setting?

12

Mirror Mirror on the wall which is the best

product or technology or innovation
of them all?
P.S.- for the BoP setting?

13

Why ? Because life is about keeping up with the Joneses .

And catching-up with the non-BoP communities

If its only for

the poor you
might as well
give it free

Low demand for

nontraditional
cookstove
technologies
By
Mobarak et al.
(2011)

You can improve access to sustainable

energy without a lot of money also.

Benefits of Harvesting Urine

(Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

Conservation of water and infrastructure (water

and waste water)
Energy Conservation

Use as fertilizer (Direct application, struvite,

composting, etc.)
Use as industrial feed stock (NH3, H2)
Improved wastewater treatment

Sustainable energy with new behavioural routines

Human Excreta is a
Potent Fertilizer An
example

Urine &
Faeces

Ecosan Program
Implementation at
Bangalore, India

Urine

Fertilizer
Source : GTZ

(Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

Source:Lokesh

Food Waste
Bio digester

Bio gas

Food waste and kitchen waste can be converted into good

manure and also for production of gas for cooking
SCOPE, Trichy

(Courtesy: SCOPE, Trichy India)

18

*http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2013/04/why-africa-is-missing-the-solarelectricity-boat.html

*http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2013/04/why-africa-is-missing-the-solarelectricity-boat.html

ustainability over time and for environment = Quality

vailability over space in sufficient quantity;

ffordability within their budget;

spirational it should symbolize catching-up and not being

.poor;

ttractive things for the poor are too often ugly;

epairability poor cannot afford to throw away;

afe things for the poor are usually low in quality.

 olicy there is a need to rewrite policies, regulatory frames,

public programs; enabling environments.
ndustrial capabilities in renewable energy Sectors;
Manpower, scientific, technological and innovative.

ncentives via Industrial policy, competition policy, S&T;

artnership Need for creative partnerships;

eaders Leaders among firms, among bureaucrats, among
scientists and among social enterprises must emerge.
ntrepreneurship of all kinds institutional, techno, business,
scientific is needed.

Thank
You
for
Listening !