Distributed renewable energy can help overcome the challenge of reliable power supply in many remote and rural areas of India, provided the institutional mechanism to take renewable energy solutions to these areas can be established. Micro Finance Institutions (MFIs) with their wide and growing reach have operational presence in several of these areas and can help in the last mile outreach. Sa-Dhan is interested in developing solutions that are backed by well researched evidence that can enhance the capacity of MFIs to distribute and finance solar products. M2i was assigned to perform research, advisory and documentation for Sa-Dhan to enable it to create the necessary solutions.