The rate of growth in the demand for power in many developing countries is alarming. Some are facing unprecedented power shortages, which are increasingly hindering the opportunity to fulfil potential economic development. In rural areas, particularly where the agricultural sector is leading the way towards higher per capita incomes, as is the case in many areas of India, the shortages are being felt the most. This trend is likely to continue as demand from rural areas increases through population pressure and development requirements, and may worsen due to the fact that the conventional means of supplying power to these areas i.e. through extension of the centralised grid, is fraught with inefficiencies.