Sarah Butler-Sloss, Founder-Director of Ashden says that the recent decision of the Reserve Bank of India to include loans given by banks to individuals for purchasing off-grid solar products will be a major growth driver for the solar industry.    

Sarah Butler-Sloss, a philanthropist and an internationally recognised authority in the field of green energy, was in India to take part in the International Seminar on Energy Access that was held in New Delhi a few days back. Ashden is a London-based not-for-profit organisation that seeks to promote universal access to sustainable energy.    

In July, the RBI included loans sanctioned by banks directly to individuals for setting up off-grid solar and other off-grid renewable energy solutions for households under ‘priority sector’ loans.    

Sarah feels that the solar power movement in India has taken root and is growing. Falling solar prices and rising diesel costs are contributing to this, making it ever more attractive for people and businesses to invest in solar rather than diesel generators.