Pioneering projects from solar panels to biomass plants are finding funds through offsets.

Rajendra Chitragi is a fruit merchant in the coastal town of Kumta, in the southern Indian state of Karnataka. With no connection to the grid, he used to rely on kerosene lanterns to keep his shop open through the evening. But the dim light, smoke and risk of fire weren't much of a draw for customers, and he got fed up with the ongoing fuel and maintenance costs.
Then he heard about Orb Solar, a Bangalore-based company that aims to make solar energy affordable and accessible, by combining installation and post-sale support with help securing low-interest loans. Compared with kerosene, photovoltaics offer a cleaner, safer and more reliable source of light.
And the electricity generated can be used to power other appliances, too, with long-term cost savings. Orb Solar calculates that, by exchanging a 2.5kwh diesel generator for a PV array with a capacity of 1KW, a company can save 470,000 rupees (US$10,000) over ten years.
http://uk.ibtimes.com/articles/20101223/pioneering-projects-from-solar-panels-biomass-plants-are-finding-funds-through-offsets.htm