India’s energy scenario demanded meeting its present and future energy needs in an environmentally sustainable manner, with special focus on rural consumption. The purpose of RECOMM was to accelerate the introduction and use of commercially viable renewable energy technologies (RETs) in India. One way of achieving this was by lending financial and technical support to renewable energy promotional efforts by introducing and using commercially viable RETs developed through a commercial network. RECOMM facilitated the growth of these technologies through financial assistance in the form of grants, conditional grants and loans.

WII aimed at

a) Commercializing high-potential technologies
b) Developing renewable energy projects
c) Improving access to financing and capital
d) Facilitating renewable energy partnerships, and
e) Strengthening environment for renewable energy

A number of institutional models were developed that helped to promote entrepreneurship in the renewable energy sector, especially in rural areas. Sixty individual projects in various RETS were supported; more than 50 percent of the funding under sub-agreements was disbursed as conditional grants, returnable to fund new investments (see RECOMM Reflows project under Active Projects).

RECOMM facilitated the entry of renewable energy into sectors such as health and education, which was hitherto not attempted in India. The Indian rural sector has recognized the advantages of renewable energy as a beneficial source of power.
The subagreements under RECOMM have been instrumental in developing innovative institutional models for renewable energy promotion, apart from facilitating financial engineering.

• A total of Rs 40 million was distributed to various organizations, ESCOs, NGOs and consultants to undertake projects in the areas of SPV, biomass power generation, small hydro, wind power and financial advisory services.
• Financial assistance provided in the form of grants has begun to come back to Winrock International India, which is a strong indicator of the success RECOMM achieved in fostering new models.
• An entrepreneurial development institute was set up in Karnataka under the aegis of the RECOMM project.
• Number of workshops, seminars and training programs were held aimed at strengthening the policy environment.