One single transaction worth nearly 15 million Euros has successfully bundled 25,000 farming households across the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Rajasthan together in a deal to finance the purchase of energy-efficient drip irrigation systems, with a loan averaging about 594 Euros per household.

Small amounts of REEEP funding can transform the lives of the poor. This is the message in seven encouraging case studies from SELCO India, a REEEP partner that has used funding to remove financial barriers and test finance and product innovation at the grassroots level. In the process, it has refuted many general assumptions about the affordability of renewable energy services targeted at the poor.

REEEP activities achieve overproportionately high results for the level of funds disbursed, according to a study conducted by Consortium Le Groupe-conseil baastel ltée and Econoler International which analyzed the outputs and outcomes from 47 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects in the emerging markets and the developing world.

Tamil Nadu is investing in energy efficiency in the state’s water services and street lighting in 29 of its 45 city authorities. Power bills typically represent 40-60% of the total costs of running urban water plants.