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11 - Renewable Energy

from Part III - The Big Ideas

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 August 2026

Sanjoy Sanyal
Affiliation:
Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
Jaideep Prabhu
Affiliation:
Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
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Summary

Renewable energy is being used at every stage of the food production process. Its use aids in climate mitigation by reducing emissions, as well as in climate adaptation by enabling processes that add value to the raw produce. Once installed, renewable energy is cheaper than conventional energy. Decentralised products, such as solar rooftops and solar pumps, are particularly popular in developing countries, where the electricity they provide is often more reliable than power from the grid. However, a risk of using solar pumps is the potential overuse of groundwater. One way to manage this risk is to have farmers pay for the water they use, rather than purchase the system outright. This approach solves another problem: small producers often do not have the cash up front. They could use the system if banks or community organisations provided them leasing options. The ‘pay-as-you-go’ method, which uses mobile money, ensures convenience and risk management.

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  • Renewable Energy
  • Sanjoy Sanyal, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Jaideep Prabhu, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Will We Go Hungry?
  • Online publication: 08 August 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009762380.014
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  • Renewable Energy
  • Sanjoy Sanyal, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Jaideep Prabhu, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Will We Go Hungry?
  • Online publication: 08 August 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009762380.014
Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

  • Renewable Energy
  • Sanjoy Sanyal, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, Jaideep Prabhu, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge
  • Book: Will We Go Hungry?
  • Online publication: 08 August 2026
  • Chapter DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009762380.014
Available formats
×