During the last two decades, numerous policy actors have advocated multiple models for the diffusion of solar energy-based technologies in India. In recent years, the social development-based energy business model was promoted by some NGOs, civil society groups and academicians for reaching the poor for meeting their energy needs. Using a case study approach, this article explores the social shaping of a solar micro-grid established in rural Bihar through the hybrid model of environmental governance. The article employs the social shaping of technology framework to explain the top-down and bottom-up interpretations of the solar micro-grid in rural India. By focusing on the idea of citizens and consumers, it explains the influence of the wider socio-political context in closing down the debate and stabilising the choices. The article illustrates the implications of the narrow framing of the socio-technical ensemble by the NGO’s and civil society groups (top-down perspective) on the diffusion potential of the solar micro-grid. The bottom-up perspective adds more layer to the interpretation of the socio-technical ensemble. An integrated, comprehensive understanding based on both the top-down and bottom-up perspective would help in developing a responsible research and innovation paradigm.

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“我们不想要假能源”：印度农村地区太阳能微电网的社会形态

在过去的二十年中，许多政策参与者都提倡在印度推广基于太阳能的技术的多种模式。近年来，一些非政府组织，民间社会团体和院士推广了基于社会发展的能源商业模式，以帮助穷人满足他们的能源需求。本文采用案例研究的方法，通过环境治理的混合模型探索了在比哈尔邦农村建立的太阳能微电网的社会形态。本文采用技术框架的社会形态来解释印度农村太阳能微电网的自上而下和自下而上的解释。通过关注公民和消费者的思想，它解释了更广泛的社会政治环境在结束辩论和稳定选择方面的影响。这篇文章说明了非政府组织和民间社会团体（自上而下的观点）狭窄的社会技术整体框架对太阳能微电网扩散潜力的影响。自下而上的视角为社会技术集成的解释增加了更多层次。基于自上而下和自下而上的观点的综合，全面的理解将有助于开发负责任的研究和创新范例。