ABSTRACT
In June 1996, the Bank decided, it was time to make a special foray into renewable energy and founded Grameen Shakti (literally 'rural energy'). This chapter examines why this has occurred, how it is being done, and how well it is doing as a model for sustainable banking. It focuses on renewables makes sense both at global level, where it recognises the importance of the sustainability agenda, and also at the local level, where energy for rural villages offers important step to break the poverty cycle using these innovative technologies. The Grameen Bank has so far provided a mechanism for two of the three key factors in sustainability: economic development and community development. Nevertheless, Grameen Shakti has been firmly focused on renewables and thus is an important contributor to the international notion of 'sustainable banking'. The bank establishes its branches, under a branch manager and a number of bank workers, usually with a catchment of between 15 and 22 villages.
