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2012
Enabling Indian
Communities Become
Sustainable Details of Companies, Non-governmental Organisations
Enabling Indian Communities to Undertake Sustainable
Activities
Overview of the Report ............................................................................................................................. 5
Summary of Entities Involved in Enabling Sustainable Communities ....................................................... 6
Solar ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Biomass Power ...................................................................................................................................... 7
Biogas .................................................................................................................................................... 8
Organic Farming .................................................................................................................................... 9
Waste Management ............................................................................................................................. 9
Energy Efficiency ................................................................................................................................... 9
Water Conservation and Management ................................................................................................ 9
All Renewable Energy Sectors ............................................................................................................. 10
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Solar ............................................................................... 11
Barefoot College ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Milaap ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
Solar Alternatives and Associated Programmes (SAAP) ......................................................................... 14
Suzlon Foundation .................................................................................................................................. 15
Humana People to People India ............................................................................................................. 16
d.light ...................................................................................................................................................... 17
The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) ............................................................................................... 18
Claro Energy ............................................................................................................................................ 20
SunEdison ................................................................................................................................................ 21
Chirag Project .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Azure Power ............................................................................................................................................ 22
Simpa Network Inc .................................................................................................................................. 23
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Biomass .......................................................................... 24
Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI) ....................................................................................... 25
Husk Power Systems (HPS) ..................................................................................................................... 26
Biomass Energy for Rural India (BERI)..................................................................................................... 27
M/S Aruna Electrical Works .................................................................................................................... 28
Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited .................................................................................................. 30
Nishant Bioenergy Limited, India ............................................................................................................ 31
Greenway Grameen Infra ....................................................................................................................... 31
Ankur Scientific Energy ........................................................................................................................... 32
Saran Renewable Energy ........................................................................................................................ 34
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Biogas ............................................................................. 35
Agriculture, Crafts, Trades and Studies (ACTS) ....................................................................................... 36
Avani Bioenergy ...................................................................................................................................... 36
Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development Association (INSEDA) .............................. 37
Maverik Biomethane Projects Pvt. Ltd. (MBPPL) ................................................................................... 37
SKG Sangha ............................................................................................................................................. 39
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Organic Farming .............................................................. 40
Rural Opportunity for Social Elevation (ROSE)........................................................................................ 41
Navreet Energy Research and Information (NERI) .................................................................................. 41
Heal the Soil ............................................................................................................................................ 42
Navdanya ................................................................................................................................................ 42
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Waste Management ........................................................ 44
Chintan .................................................................................................................................................... 45
Exnora Green Pammal ............................................................................................................................ 45
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Energy Efficiency ............................................................. 47
Green Energy Foundation (GEF) ............................................................................................................. 48
Greenlight Planet .................................................................................................................................... 49
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – Water Conservation and Management ............................ 50
Mallanadu Development Society ............................................................................................................ 51
Manthan .................................................................................................................................................. 52
Sir Ratan Tata Trust & First Solar ............................................................................................................ 53
Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE) .................................................................................. 53
Entities Empowering Rural Communities – All Renewable Energy Sectors .......................................... 55
Rural Electrification Corporation (REC) ................................................................................................... 56
Asian Development bank ........................................................................................................................ 56
Desi Power .............................................................................................................................................. 57
OMC ........................................................................................................................................................ 57
Mithradam .............................................................................................................................................. 58
Cummins ................................................................................................................................................. 59
SELCO ...................................................................................................................................................... 61
Case Studies – Examples and Efforts of Entities Empowering the Rural
Communities
Case Study 1: Solar Electrification & Night Schools in Village Patan, Rajasthan ........................................ 13
Case Study 2: Lighting 1500 households in West Bengal ............................................................................ 14
Case Study 3: Providing Employment for Musahars (or) Rat Catchers of Bihar ......................................... 15
Case Study 4: Distribution of Solar Lanterns in Villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh ..................... 16
Case Study 5: 100% Solar Village, Orissa .................................................................................................... 18
Case Study 6: Lighting a Billion Lives ........................................................................................................... 19
Case Study 7: HP Pumps to Run on Solar power ........................................................................................ 20
Case Study 8: Eradication of Darkness - SEED project for Indian villages ................................................... 21
Case Study 9: Pay as you go Solar Panel Products ...................................................................................... 23
Case Study 10: Smokeless Chulas @ Nandal Village, Maharashtra ............................................................ 25
Case Study 11: Agarbattis from Char Waste ............................................................................................... 27
Case Study 12: First village in India to sell power to grid ........................................................................... 28
Case Study 13: Electrification through Biomass Plants in Madhya Pradesh ............................................... 29
Case Study 14: Biomass in Rajasthan: Electricity Generation from Mustard Crop Residue in Rajasthan .. 30
Case Study 15: Biomass based cook stoves – Sanjay Chulas& Improvement of the Economic Condition of
the Villagers. ............................................................................................................................................... 31
Case Study 16: Greenway Smart Stove ....................................................................................................... 32
Case Study 17: Gasifiers installed for village electrification @ Sundarbans ............................................... 33
Case Study 18: Biomasss Power Plants in Villages of UP and Bihar ............................................................ 34
Case Study 19: Akodara Biogas to Power project ....................................................................................... 38
Case Study 20: Biogas Plants Hermarlahalla Village, Karnataka ................................................................. 39
Case Study 21: Village kitchen garden @ Pondicherry ............................................................................... 42
Case Study 22: Waste Management @ Pammal, Chennai ......................................................................... 46
Case Study 23: Sustainable Water Management Program @Buchkewadi Village, Pune ........................... 48
Case Study 24: Sun king project- Distribution of Solar Lanterns in Indian Villages .................................... 49
Case Study 25: Sustainable Drinking Water Programme @ Kerala ............................................................ 51
Case Study 26: Solar Powered Desalination Plant @ Kotri Village, Rajasthan ........................................... 52
Case Study 27: Promoting Fish Drying Using Efficient Biomass Fired Dryers by Rural Women ................. 54
Case Study 28: Biomass Power Generation for 100 Villages in India ......................................................... 57
Case Study 29: Solar Power Supply for 300 Households in Uttar Pradesh ................................................. 58
Case Study 30: Electric Supply Network for Rural Electrification ............................................................... 59
Case Study 31: Power to Remote Areas of Padarwadi Village, Pune ......................................................... 60
Case Study 32: Computer Education through Solar Powered Bus for Rural School Children in Karnataka 61
Overview of the Report
The objective of this document is to highlight efforts undertaken by non-governmental organizations, companies, individuals in the renewable energy and clean technology sectors to empower the underserved sections of the Indian society.
Some of the issues (highlighted below) faced by the rural households living in India have initiated the
entities to carry out sustainable activities for the communities.
This document provides details of the entities that are involved, their role in enabling the communities
to take up sustainable activities as well as projects that have been implemented by these entities for the
communities.
This document covers about 45 entities and each of them is involved in carrying out various sustainable
activities for villages across India and other parts of the world.
The initiatives take by the entities have been categorised based on the renewable energy/ cleantech
sector in which the activity has been carried out.
As of 2012, 80,000 villages in India have limited or no access to electricity. Source:
EntryIndia.com
The average income of villagers in the rural areas are as low as Rs.250/month ( USD $5)
An estimated 720 million Indians in 600,000 villages have no access to clean drinking water.
Source Business Today.
About 31 percent of India’s 806 million people living in rural areas do not have access to a
clean water source. Source: thesolutionjournal.com
About 668 million or around 70% of the Indians (in 6.4 lakh villages) live in rural areas and
continue to use animal dung, agricultural waste and fuel wood as fuel for cooking.
300,000 to 400,000 people die of indoor air pollution and carbon monoxide poisoning in
India because of biomass burning and use of chulhas.
Lack of clean and reliable energy sources such as electricity is, in part, causing about 800
million people in India to continue using traditional biomass energy sources – namely fuel
wood, agricultural waste and livestock dung – for cooking and other domestic needs.
2.2 billion liters of kerosene is burnt each year for lighting and about 5.5 million tonnes CO2
emitted to the atmosphere by burning of this kerosene by the rural households.
Provided below are the number of entities that have been covered in this document, their type and the
renewable energy or clean technology sectors to which they belong to:
# of Entities Involved in Enabling Sustainable Communities
45
# of Entities that are NGO’s and self-help groups
21
# of Entities that are Corporates 12
# Of Entities that are Social Enterprises 7
# of Entities that belong to the public sector
2
# of Entities that are financial organisations
1
# of Entities that are Research Institutes
3
Summary of Entities Involved in Enabling Sustainable Communities
Name of the Entity
Type of the Entity
Location Sector Community activity
Solar
Barefoot College
NGO/Social Enterprise
Rajasthan Solar Power Provides basic services and solutions to problems in rural communities for more than 40 years in several villages of India especially in Rajasthan.
Milaap NGO/Social Enterprise
Bengaluru Solar energy Initiated the light a 1000 households program in West Bengal and villages in Orissa.
Solar Alternatives and Associated Programs (SAAP)
NGO/Social Enterprise
Kerala Solar Thermal Power
They provide solar thermal solutions ( solar cookers, water heaters, dryers, distillation and baking systems)for the rural communities
Suzlon Foundation
Private company
Pune Solar lighting Initiated distributing solar lanterns in villages of Rajasthan.
Humana People to People India
NGO/Social Enterprise
New Delhi Solar Power They have installed solar charging station in various villages. They have also played a major role in the Lighting a Billion Lives Initiative (LaBL) along with TERI.
d.light NGO/Social Enterprise
New Delhi Solar Power They design, manufacture and distribute solar light and power to the underserved section of the society living in the villages across India.
Sector-Wise Breakup of the Entities
# of Entities carrying out solar activities – 12
# of Entities carrying out biomass related activities
9
# of Entities carrying out biogas related activities
5
# of Entities carrying out Organic Farming 4
# of Entities carrying out Waste Management
2
# of Entities in Water Conservation& Management
4
# of Entities carrying out Energy Efficiency activities
2
# of Entities carrying out activities in various renewable energy sectors
7
The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)
Research Institute
Uttar Pradesh
Solar Lanterns and Green Buildings
A research institute based in New Delhi focusing its research activities in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable development. One of their major initiatives was the LaBL Initiative which aims @ providing renewable power to billion households living in villages.
Claro Energy Private Company
New Delhi Solar Power Claro Energy offers solar powered water pumping solutions to meet irrigation water and drinking water needs of remote and rural parts of India.
SunEdison Private Company
Chennai Solar photovoltaic (PV)
The company provides solar services and solutions to the rural community across India. They initiatiated “Sun Edison Eradicating Darkness (SEED)”, a programme that aims to electrify many remote villages across India, Africa and South East Asia through solar powered mini-grids.
Chirag Project NGO/Social Enterprise
Rajasthan Solar home lighting systems
Providing Solar based home lighting systems to some villages in Uttarakhand.
Azure Power Private Company
New Delhi Solar Providing unique distributed solar power service to rural communities, governments, and commercial customers throughout India
Simpa Network Inc
Private Company
Bangalore Solar Home Systems
They have installed a pay as you go solar system in villages where the villagers pay based on the actual usage.
Biomass Power
Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI)
NGO/Social Enterprise
Maharashtra Biomass Providing smokeless chulas to the rural households in India. One of their major initiatives was providing 500 households in Nandhal village @ Maharashtra with Smokeless Chulas Running on Biomass
Husk Power System (HPS)
Private Company
Bihar Biomass Power
HPS has Installed 80 biomass based plants using gasification technology in Bihar. Around 200.000 people across 300 villages are benefited by the initiatives of HPS.
Biomass Energy for Rural India (BERI)
Public Sector Karnataka Biomass Power
Aims at developing and implementing a bio-energy technology package to promote a sustainable and participatory approach in meeting rural energy needs. The project is being implemented in a cluster of about 24 villages in Karnataka.
Aruna Electrical Works
Private company
Villupuram Biomass Gasifiers
Designs biomass gasifiers ranging from 10KWe to 5 MW that are suitable for power generation as well as for thermal applications. Aruna s gasifiers have been installed in many villages/rural areas of India.
Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited
Private Company
Rajasthan Biomass power
Biomass power plants in villages developed using agricultural waste and crop residues especially mustard crops.
Nishant Bioenergy Limited
Private Company
Chandigarh Biomass based cook stoves
Providing sustainable carbon neutral energy
solutions and creating employment
opportunities for rural households through low
cost cook stoves and processed biomass fuel
pellets through various local stakeholders
Greenway Grameen Infra
Private Company
Mumbai Biomass based stoves
Developing innovative biomass solutions for
rural consumers based on the company’s unique
heat transfer technology
Ankur Scientific Energy
Private Company
Gujarat Biomass Gasifiers
Biomass gasifiers are installed in small villages in Coimbatore for village irrigation and electrification.
Saran Renewable Energy
Private Company
Bihar Electricity from agricultural waste
Generates electricity from renewable raw materials such as agricultural waste biomass--rice and wheat husk, plant stalks, juliflora, waste wood and corn cobs for the rural households.
Biogas
Agriculture, Crafts, Trades and Studies (ACTS)
Research Institute
Bengaluru Biogas Providing total development to the rural communities through projects that revolve around education, environment and health programmes
Avani Bioenergy
NGO/Social Enterprise
Uttarakhand Biogas Facilitating and bringing clean and reliable energy source to the villages in Northern India.
Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development Association (INSEDA)
NGO/Social Enterprise
New Delhi Biogas They provide biogas development in rural areas, solar lighting, solar cookers, micro hydel, biomass gasifiers, wind energy systems, energy audit and applications.
Maverik Biomethane Projects Private Limited ( MBPPL)
Private Company
Vadodara Biogas Production, Vermi composting
The objectives of MBPPL are to work for the upliftment of inadequately privileged people of the society, to make villages clean & green by promoting & using biomethane technology.
SKG Sangha NGO/Social Enterprise
Karnataka Biogas & Solar Power
Constructed the highest number of biogas plants in India, total of 64,000 plants and installed 200,000+ improved fuel efficient fuel stoves especially for the rural sector.
Organic Farming
Rural Organization for Social Elevation (R.O.S.E)
Small self-help group
Uttarakhand Organic Farming in hamlets of Gujarat
ROSE promotes organic farming and permaculture by using local sustainable crop seeds with organic compost and manure for farmers in villages across north India
NERI - Navreet Energy Research and Information (NERI) in the field of eco-friendly energy
NGO/Social Enterprise
Haryana Organic farming, Biomass powered irrigation pumps
NERI is implementing a project on clean and green energy technology and organic farming concept towards empowerment and better livelihoods of farmers
Heal the Soil NGO/Social Enterprise
Bengaluru Organic farming
With some organic experts, the team helps start-up small vegetable gardens in village homes.
Navdanya Research Institute
New Delhi Composting, Organic farming
Navdanya has helped set up 111 community seed banks across the country, trained over 5,00,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades.
Waste Management
Chintan NGO/Social Enterprise
Delhi Waste management
Improving the lives of the rag pickers community by providing them with green jobs, education, and also assisting in improving the economic status of this community.
Exnora Green Pammal (EGP)
NGO/Social Enterprise
Chennai Solid waste management, Biogas Power
EGP works with residents, authorities, schools and the private sector to minimize waste and pollution in a suburb of Chennai – Pammal.
Energy Efficiency
Green Energy Foundation
NGO/Social Enterprise
Pune Energy conservation and renewable energy
Propagating the ethos of sustainable living and disseminate knowledge to the rural communities.
Greenlight Planet
Private Company
Mumbai LED Lanterns Combining technology and innovative distribution networks to commercialize low-power LED lanterns.
Water Conservation and Management
Mallanadu Development Society
Research Institute
New Delhi Water Purification
Offer portable and stationary solar powered water purification systems typically for remote villages where water purification and electrical power are unavailable.
Manthan NGO/Social Enterprise
Bhopal Water management
Roof top rain water harvesting programs in various schools in rural areas.
Sir Ratan Tata Trust & First Solar
Others Mumbai Drinking water schemes in coastal villages
Providing safe drinking water and irrigation to rural communities in India's northern Uttarakhand state
Technology Informatics Design Endeavour
NGO/Social Enterprise
Bengaluru Energy efficiency and waste management
They have designed and implemented rain water harvesting in more than 25 places in villages and large public utility areas.
All Renewable Energy Sectors
Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)
Public sector New Delhi Electrification of villages - Solar, Biomass
REC provides financial assistance to state electricity boards, state government departments and rural electric cooperatives for rural electrification projects that are sponsored by them.
Asian Development bank
Multilateral Financial Organisation
New Delhi Agriculture, Energy, Health
Microfinance, Funding for rural households using solar lanterns
Desi Power Private Company
Bangaluru All Renewable energy sectors
Providing renewable energy solutions for decentralized rural power generation in various villages
OMC Private Company
Gurgaon & Mumbai
Solar, Wind and Biogas
Building small-scale power plants with renewable sources especially solar for the rural sector where there is no reliable power grid.
Mithradam NGO/Social Enterprise
Cochin Solar and Wind Power
Provides electricity for rural communities across India, conducting training programs for people with experts for the last ten years.
Cummins Private Company
Pune Biogas, Biofuel and Waste management
Serving and improving the communities by
building stronger and cleaner communities by
providing non-electrified villages with
equipment’s designed and manufactured by
Cummins such as generator, gas-engines etc
SELCO NGO/Social Enterprise
Bangalore A set of sustainable energy services
Enhancing the quality of life of underserved
households and improving their livelihoods
through sustainable energy solutions and
services
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Solar
For the solar electrification of villages,
Barefoot College annually trains about 100
grandmothers from India and 80 grandmothers
from international villages/rural areas located
in the least developed countries as per the UN.
Barefoot College
Location: Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Bunker Roy
Sector: Solar electrification, clean water, education etc..
Activities: Providing basic services and solutions to problems in rural communities for more than 40 years, with
the objective of making them self-sufficient and sustainable.
These 'Barefoot solutions' can be broadly categorized into the delivery of solar electrification, clean
water, education and livelihood development; health care, rural handicrafts, and communication.
One of their major initiatives is organising night schools for children living in villages, providing them
solar lanterns. Details of one such project in Gujarat have been highlighted in the box below (Case
Study 1)
Established in 1972, the Barefoot College is a non-
government organization that has been providing basic
services and solutions to problems in rural communities,
with the objective of making them self-sufficient and
sustainable.
The Barefoot College has been pioneering solar
electrification in rural, remote, non-electrified villages, since 1989.
The college essentially trains a few members of the community to be ‘Barefoot Solar Engineers’ (BSEs),
who will install, repair and maintain solar lighting units for a period of five years at least, as well as set
up a ‘Rural Electronic Workshop’ where components and equipment needed for the repair and
maintenance of solar units will be stored.
The rural, illiterate and semi-literate men and women are involved in placing the fabrication,
installation, usage, repair and maintenance of sophisticated solar lighting units etc…
To date, Barefoot College has trained about 15,000 women, most of them previously uneducated, to
become teachers, construction workers, water testers, artisans, photographers, dentists, social
activists, and solar engineers. The women, in turn, have brought basic services-such as water, light,
education, and healthcare-to at least half a million people.
Providing basic solar solutions to rural communities for more than 40 years in order to make them self-sufficient
and sustainable
Milaap is the first online platform to enable anyone around the world to lend to the working poor in India.
Website: http://www.barefootcollege.org/
Milaap
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India & Headquartered @ Singapore. Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise Founder: Sourabh Sharma- Co-Founder, Business Development Sector: Solar Lighting, Clean Water and Smokeless Stoves
Milaap is a social enterprise that enables people around the
world to give a loan to the working poor in India.
Milaap is the world’s first and currently, the only online micro
lending platform that enables non-Indians & non-resident Indians
(NRIs) to make a loan to India.
Case Study 1: Solar Electrification & Night Schools in Village Patan, Rajasthan
Location: Patan, Rajasthan Activity: Solar Electrification and Night Schools for children living in Patan. Patan is a small village, 7 kms from Tilonia (near Ajmer district of Rajasthan). Barefoot college has not only provided light to this village through solar lanterns, it has also organized a night school for all the children living where the children attend their classes using solar lights. The schools run every day from 6p.m. to 10p.m.
These children who come to study go to work in the morning like helping in the farm, cattle grazing and
doing other day to day chores but still have energy left to sing the rhymes and poems taught at their
night school.
The teachers teaching the kids @ Village Patan undergo a ten day training programme, once in a year
during off season of farming and meet monthly to discuss new methods, drawbacks and improve their
teaching skills.
Barefoot college is running around 125 night schools in many villages of Rajasthan, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh,
and Madhya Pradesh.
Facilitating Non-Resident Indian’s (NRI’s) to lend to India's working poor so they can get access to education,
clean water, safe lighting and more.
SAAP is the sole fabricator of
different varieties equipments for
making use of solar thermal energy in
Bihar and second for large scale
Scheffler solar reflectors in India.
Milaap’s loans are aimed towards providing people with access to basic essentials like clean drinking
water, sanitation, renewable energy, vocational training with guaranteed jobs, apart from enterprise
development.
One of the major initiatives taken up by this NGO was providing solar lighting to over 1500 households
living in the villages of West Bengal. The details of the same are highlighted in the box below:
Website: http://www.milaap.org
Solar Alternatives and Associated Programmes (SAAP)
Location: Patna, Bihar, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise Founder: Mathew SJ Muthuplackal, Founder &Director Sector: Solar thermal power Solar Alternatives and Associated Programmes (SAAP) is a Patna based NGO that benefits the rural community by providing solar thermal solutions to the vilalges in Bihar as well as other parts of India.
The specialty of this organization is that through solar thermal solutions it tries to serve the
underprivileged sections of the society.
One of the major initiatives taken by SAAP is to provide employment to a group of people living in Bihar
whose major source of livelihood is to catch rats. SAAP has been successful in involving these rat
catchers, also known as MUSAHARS in fabrication, setting up solar thermal plants etc.. (Refer Case Study
:3) in varied locations.
Case Study 2: Lighting 1500 households in West Bengal
Location: Villages in West Bengal Community population: 1500 households Activity: Solar electrification
Milaap is working towards electrifying villages in West Bengal by bringing solar lights to more than 1500
rural households residing in villages in and around the place.
The project also aims to reduce monthly family expenditure on lighting by 50 percent, increase family
income by 20-30% and empower local partners to promote sustainable and clean energy for these poor
and excluded communities in West Bengal.
Milaap has also developed a financing mechanism that allows poor communities to leapfrog the grid and
move straight to solar light since around 85% of the people living in these villages are earning less that Rs
3000 per month. This means that they will not be able to pay up for Rs. 10,000 solar lights upfront.
Providing solar thermal solutions to serve the underprivileged sections of the society
Suzlon Foundation
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Type of Entity: Company Founder/Patners: Tulsi Tanthi, Chairman RE/ Clean tech Sector: Solar Lighting Suzlon Foundation leads the corporate social responsibility initiatives for Suzlon group of companies.
The Foundation ensures that business policies and practices support sustainability as its guiding
principle.
Suzlon operates in underdeveloped regions, where holistic development is urgently required. Large
geographical spread and diverse human resources make it possible for Suzlon to take up this challenge.
One of their major green initiatives was the efforts carried out by the organization to distribute solar
lanterns in some villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradhesh, the details of the project have been
outlined below:
Case Study 3: Providing Employment for Musahars (or) Rat Catchers of Bihar
Location: Patna Community population: 2000 Activity: Solar Thermal Installations.
Musahars, more commonly known as rat catchers are a hindu scheduled caste found in the states of Bihar
and Uttar Pradesh in india.
In the rural areas, Musahars are primarily bonded agricultural labourers, but often go without work for as
much as eight months in a year. Children work alongside their parents in the fields or as rag pickers, earning as
little as 25 to 30 rupees daily. (Less than US$/day)
The Musahar literacy rate is 3%, but falls below 1% among women. By some estimates, as many as 85% of
some villages of Musahars suffer from malnutrition and with access to health centres scant, diseases such as
malaria and kala-azar, the most severe form of Leishmaniasis, are prevalent. (Source: Wikipedia)
Besides eating rats, the Musahars are known for producing a good and cheap alcohol.
SAAP has taken initiatives to empower this socially and economically depressed group - MUSAHARS’ living in
parts of Bihar to assist them in solar fabrication. In the solar fabricating side these rat catchers are working
with SAAP for the last six years.
This has enabled this group of people to have an improved economic status thereby increasing their quality of
life.
Powering a greener foundation through sustainable development for the under privileged living in under
developed regions.
Website: http://www.suzlonfoundation.org/
Humana People to People India
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise Founder/ Partners: Dr.Mrs. A. Padmavath RE/ Clean tech Sector: Solar power Humana People to People India is a development organization registered in 1998 as a not-for-profit
company. Humana People to People India runs 44 projects in 9 states of India within the areas of
Community Development, Education, Health, Environment and Microfinance, reaching more than one
million people.
They have installed solar charging stations in Karahal in Madhya Pradesh. This initiative is an add-on to the current integrated community development project in tribal households. So far in 4 villages it has been installed.
Case Study 4: Distribution of Solar Lanterns in Villages of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh
Location: Jaisalmer, RatanKa Bans and Ratlam – Rajasthan and MP Community population: 500+ Activities: Distributing solar lanterns
Jaisalmer also called the Golden city located 575 kilometres (357 mi) west from the state capital Jaipur. It
lies in the heart of the Thar Desert. Ratlam also known as Ratnapuri, is a city in the north western part of
the Malwa region in Madhya Pradesh state of central India.
The people living in Jaisalmer made their living by selling leather messenger bags, made from wild camels
native to the area While the villagers @ Ratlam manufacture copper wire, plastic ropes, chemicals and
artificial oxygen, among other products.
Lighting was the prime need in the potential development of the villagers in Jaisalmer, Ratanka Bans and
Ratlam in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh for the improvement of their economic situation since they
were unable to work beyond 4 p.m. due to the lack of lighting facilities.
The Suzlon foundation therfore has taken efforts to distribute around 500 solar lanterns in these villages.
The economic situation of the people living in the villages have improved due to the use of solar lanterns
and the children living there are able to study in the evening with the availability of adequate light.
Enabling community development for the tribal households through Education, Health, Environment and
Microfinance, reaching more than one million people
In 2004, during D.light co-founder Sam Goldman’s Peace
Corps service in Benin, Africa, his neighbour’s son was
badly burned by an overturned kerosene lamp.
This incident, along with the knowledge that 2.3 billion
people in the world still do not have access to reliable
electricity, inspired Sam to participate in a class called
Entrepreneurial Design for Extreme Affordability at the
Stanford Design School.
That’s where they developed their initial prototype solar
lantern and an ambitious plan to bring safe, bright, and
renewable lighting to people around the globe.
Website: http://www.humana-india.org
d.light
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: Social enterprise Founder/ Partners: Ned Tozun Sector: Solar Power d.light is a for-profit social enterprise that designs,
manufactures and distribute solar light and power
products throughout the developing world. They aim
to transform the lives of at least 100 million people
by 2020.
d.light serves over 40 countries, through over 6,000
retail outlets, 10 field offices, and four regional hubs.
The company employs over 200 people directly, and
indirectly employs hundreds more worldwide.
d.light has carried out several green initiatives to empower various communities across India. More
details about an initiative carried out by d.light in Orissa have been highlighted below:
Transforming the lives of the under privileged by creating new freedoms for those without reliable power so that
they can enjoy a brighter future
Website: www.dlight.com
The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI)
Type of Entity: Research Institute Location: New Delhi, India Founder: Dr. R. K Pachauri RE/ Clean tech Sector: Solar Lanterns and Green Buildings
Case Study 5: 100% Solar Village, Orissa
Location: New Keringa village, Southern Orissa Activities: Use of solar lanterns instead of kerosene lamps. (100% solar lit and is the first solar village in India)
New Keringa is a village in Southern Orissa with about 50 families living there. The villagers earn their living by breaking stones into construction-grade materials, and seasonal sale of agricultural products, primarily rice, in nearby markets, sale of plates made out of leaves etc
The villagers of New Keringa were considered to be the poorest in India since they had a annual income of
about Rs. 7250 per year , which is less than USD 150 per year. The villagers were unable to work beyond evenings as it would get terribly dark and they had to return home very early.
New Keringa is the first Indian village to be lit by solar energy. The lives of the villagers have changed
dramatically and each house has been provided with solar lamps.
This project of making this village 100% solar lit was successfully executed by Beyond Solar ( a US based
non-profit) along with D. Light Design, a solar lantern manufacturer with an office in New Delhi and
distribution capabilities throughout India, and South Orissa Voluntary Action (SOVA), a registered non-
government organization (NGO) of Orissa.
The solar lantern that the village is presently using has a back-up of 40 hours on a single charge.
Earlier, each family was consuming 11 litres of kerosene spending around Rs.150 per month (USD $3). Now they are not only saving their money that was earlier spent on kerosene, they also save 9 hours/week that was earlier spent on commuting to bring the kerosene to the village.
The lives of the villagers have changed dramatically and each house has been provided with solar lamps.
The average monthly salary of the villagers went up by 50%. The villagers are also able to work @ night using their solar lamps. The children in the village are now using their solar lamps and are able to study@ night.
Tackling and dealing with the immense and acute problems that mankind is likely to face within in the years
ahead on account of the gradual depletion of the earth's finite energy resources which are largely non-
renewable&on account of the existing methods of their use which are polluting.
The Energy and Resource Institute, commonly known as TERI, established in 1974, is a research institute
based in New Delhi focusing its research activities in the fields of energy, environment and sustainable
development.
One of the major initiatives that they carried out was Lighting a Billion Lives Initiative which aimed @ providing electrification to over a billion people in the world. The box below highlights one such initiative carried out by TERI in a village in Rajasthan. Website: http://www.teriin.org/index.php
Case Study 6: Lighting a Billion Lives
Location: Banganga village, Viratnagar at Rajasthan Activity: Rural Electrification using Solar Lights Community Population: 120 households Lighting a Billion Lives (LaBL) was initiated by TERI and a few other organizations aiming to provide
electrification to over a billion people in the world who have no or very limited access to electricity. One of the
beneficiaries is 120 households of the Banganga village.
Banganga is a village in Viratnagar block, Rajasthan. The village has witnessed immense underground water
harvesting and massive deforestation. Hundreds of acres of land remains barren, leading to reduced rainfall in
the region.
Source of Livelihood: The people of Banganga mainly earn their living through agriculture. However, their
economic situation was very poor due to lack of electricity since the people couldn’t work beyond 4 p.m. in the
evening. Apart from agriculture, the villagers were also involved in making brooms, basket weaving etc…
Issues in the Banganga Village: Similar to the other villages in India, electricity was a major problem here as
well though the grid connection reached long ago. Most of the activities after sunset are carried out under
kerosene lights. Unhealthy fumes of kerosene lights adversely affected the villagers’ health, and weakened
their eyesight
Lighting @ Banganga Village: The issues faced by the people of Banganga village has now been controlled by
the LaBL initiatives by providing solar lanterns to this village. The people of this village have been given clean
and high intensity lights that enable them to work even during nights. These lanterns are rented out to the
villager’s everyday at a very subsidized rate. This village has over 100 households and most of them have been
benefitted through this initiative.
Benefits Reaped - The Banganga villagers who were involved only in activities pertaining to agriculture are now
able to generate more income through other activities such as basket making, broom making etc.
The villagers go around selling these in the mornings and make more of these at night with the help of their
rented solar lanterns.
At night, the villagers are also involved in vegetable sorting and officials in TERI reveal that the vegetable
market also remains open till late evenings and each vendor and vegetable seller is seen to have these
solar lanterns next to them.
Case Study 7: HP Pumps to Run on Solar power
Location: 10 villages in Bihar Activity: Solar irrigation
Claro demonstrated a 7.5 HP pump to run on solar power. Till today it is the largest solar operated pump in Bihar.
Today with a total on the ground team of 15, it is able to rapidly deploy and service its pump installations and engaged in brand building and business development efforts in Bihar.
Claro had installed nearly 20 pumps totalling about 50HP. Nearly 10 villages depend on solar irrigation pumps installed by Claro Energy. The pumps irrigate a total land area of over 300 acres and impact the daily lives of 1000 rural farmers.
Famers are becoming more water-efficient, as they have reliable daily water supply and they therefore don’t need to flood their fields whenever they get water.
In addition to improving the economic conditions of rural farmers, distributed solar power infrastructure development will also generate local employment and prevent mass migration of villagers to urban areas.
Claro Energy
Type of Entity: Company Location: New Delhi, India Founder: KarthiWahi Sector: Irrigation, Water Purification, Drinking water to rural households Claro Energy offers off-grid solar power irrigation solutions to power-deficit regions in India by sourcing proven, reliable and high quality solar PV technologies. Claro Energy offers solar powered water pumping solutions to meet irrigation water and drinking water needs of remote and rural parts of India. The company has several installations in Bihar and is rapidly expanding. Also offer portable and stationary solar powered “Water Purification Systems”. These systems are typically installed in villages/remote areas where water purification and electrical power are unavailable. One of the initiatives taken by Claro energy in villages of Bihar in providing solar powered water pumping solutions have been highlighted below:
Website: http://www.claroventures.com
Offering off-grid solar power irrigation solutions to power-deficit regions in India by sourcing reliable and high
quality solar PV technologies
Case Study 8: Eradication of Darkness - SEED project for Indian villages
Location: Meerwada Village, Rajasthan Activity: Solar electrification
SunEdison has announced a project to bring solar system to rural Indian villages called “Eradication of Darkness”.
The project will focus on building a business model for designing, installing and managing solar
projects for 29 villages in India’s Guna District. The 29 projects will be funded through a combo of government grants and private funds from other investors and corporations, says SunEdison.
They have already completed the first test installation for this initiative — a 14-kilowatt solar panel
project in Meerwada that is generating electricity for 400 villagers.
It worked with the village closely on issues like safety, education, and use, and previously the villagers only used kerosene for lighting.
Outside of rural solar projects, SunEdison, has already brought online 45 MW of solar projects in
Gujarat, including a 25 MW solar plant in the solar park in Patan located in Rajasthan.
SunEdison
Location: Chennai, Tamil Nadu Type of Entity: Private Company Founder: Alan Hirsch - Executive Vice President of Administration Sector: Solar photovoltaic (PV) SunEdison is the leading solar energy services company. It helps organizations take advantage of everything solar energy services have to offer. They develop operate and monitor hundreds of solar plants throughout the world, representing 100.6 MW of clean photovoltaic (PV) capacity. They continue to achieve that by providing customers with innovative solar energy solutions and proven financial savings while helping protect the environment too. The company also provides solar solutions to the rural community across India. One of their major accomplishments was a project carried out in the Merwada village of Rajasthan, the details of this project is highlighted below:
Website: http://www.sunedison.in/
Partnering with over 15 countries around the globe to bring renewable energy solutions especially solar that help
to make a difference in people’s lives
Chirag Project
Location: Mumbai, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise Founder: Jyotirmoy Chatterji, Co-Founder Sector: Solar home lighting systems Chirag Rural Development Foundation is a registered NGO initially started as a small project by H.R. College students in Mumbai. This model aims at providing every rural household with their right to light. This solution is delivered by providing Solar based home lighting systems to villages of India which have no access to electricity for decades together. Project Chirag is not only conceptualized by some youth but also implemented by them at the grassroot level. Website: http://www.projectchirag.com/Index.html
Azure Power
Type of Entity: Private Company Location: PushpVihar, New Delhi, India Founder: Inderpreet Wadhwa Sector: Solar Azure Power is one of India's leading solar energy developers and operators. They offer clean and affordable solar energy to their customers with little upfront cost and no ongoing operational expenses. Green Activities One of their main green activities is - Electrifying rural communities at the tail end of the grid that would
otherwise suffer crippling power outages and low voltage.
Website: http://www.azurepower.com
- ARTI
Providing every rural household with their right to light, this solution is delivered by providing solar based home
lighting systems to villages of India which have no access to electricity for decades together
Providing unique distributed solar power service to rural communities, governments, and commercial customers
throughout India
Simpa Network Inc
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Paul Needham, Founder Sector: Small solar home systems Simpa Networks is a venture-backed technology company that has introduced a product and business
model that will make sustainable energy choices “radically affordable” to the 1.6 billion Base of the
Pyramid (BoP) consumers who currently lack access to electricity.
Simpa sells distributed energy solutions on a “Progressive Purchase” basis to underserved consumers in
emerging markets and Simpa is live with customers in Karnataka, India. Their model is built upon our
proprietary risk mitigation technology which creates opportunities for market rate and social investors
to invest in the expansion of energy access.
Activities:
Simpa has initially introduced its “pay-as-you-go” pricing to household energy systems. Users pre-
pay based on actual usage and each payment adds up towards the total purchase price of the solar
home system. Consumers can send payments using a mobile phone. Once fully paid, the solar
home system unlocks and delivers free electricity for the expected 10-year life of the product. The
details of the same have been highlighted in the box below:
Website: http://simpanetworks.com/
Case Study 9: Pay as you go Solar Panel Products
Location: Bangalore, India Activity: Solar electrification
Startup Simpa Networks has developed a home solar panel product for off-grid customers
controlled by a mobile, pay-as-you-go system. The high up-front cost of the system was
the major barrier.
The retail price of a solar home system is around US$150, too much for some households
to pay on an up-front cash basis.
So they allowed the customer to try the system and pay on the basis of actual usage in
the knowledge that, if the system stopped working, they would not have to pay.
Customers pay for only the electricity produced by the solar panel at their home, in
addition to a small upfront payment for the system.
The basic solar system is 25 watts to 50 watts, which can power a couple of CFL lights, a
mobile phone charger and maybe a fan or a TV cable box.
Making modern energy simple, affordable, and accessible for everyone
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Biomass
Case Study 10: Smokeless Chulas @ Nandal Village, Maharashtra
Location: Satara District, Maharasthra Community Population: 500 households. Activities: Smokeless Chulas Running on Biomass Nandal is a Village in Phaltan Taluk in Satara District in Maharashtra State. It is located about 200 kms from Mumbai .
Every family in this village is now an owner of a Bharatlaxmi Stove, which is reducing their fuel
consumption by 30% and smoke emissions by 80% as compared to their traditional stoves.
The women also report 30% reduction in cooking time, which is a bonus on top of the health
benefits of reduced indoor air pollution.
Smokes free Village Nandal has been made possible through financial assistance of Cummins
Diesel Foundation and technical know-how of ARTI.
The stoves have been supplied by SamuchitEnviro Tech Pvt Ltd. Each family has contributed
just about INR 100 (approx USD 2.5) worth of materials for stove installation.
The total cost for installing each Bharatlaxmi Stove was not more than INR 700 (approx USD
15).
Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI)
Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Founder: Dr. Priyadarshini Karve, Project Co-ordinator, ARTI & Director Sector: Biomass for Heat and Electricity. Appropriate Rural Technology Institute (ARTI) is an
NGO based in Maharashtra, founded by a group of
scientists and social workers in 1996.
Since 1996, the organisation is involved in providing
technological support for various R&D and Field
testing projects on a variety of biomass fuelled
cooking devices for rural households and
commercial establishments.
Green Activities: ARTHI have come up with a handy kiln for making charcoal from urban leaf litter; improved Cook stoves for the rural housewives. They have also designed a compact digester for producing biogas from food waste. One of the major initiatives carried out by ARTI was to provide smokeless chulas for over 500 households living in a village in Maharashtra. More details about the project is provided below:
Products of ARTI. Image Courtesy- ARTI
Facilitating adoption of clean and sustainable technologies for enhancing quality of life in rural India
HPS has created unique models
ofdecentralized electricity generation
and distribution that can be well
managed by the locals using local
resources.
HPS is mainly involved in providing
biomass based power to rural
communities in Bihar.
HPS hassuccessfully installed more than
80 plants in Bihar, providing electricity
to over 200,000 people across 300
villages and hamlets.
Website: http://www.arti-india.org
Husk Power Systems (HPS)
Location: Patna, Bihar, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Ratnesh Yadav, Co-Founder Sector: Biomass power Husk Power Systems is a rural empowerment enterprise. It
focuses on inclusive rural development on the backbone of
electric power.
Husk Power Systems designs, installs and operates biomass-based
power plants.
Each plant uses biomass gasification technology to convert
abundant agricultural residue (procured from local farmers living
in the rural communities) into electricity, which is then distributed
to rural households and micro-enterprises through a micro-grid
system – providing a better quality, cheaper way to meet their
need for energy. They are mainly involved in assisting villages in Bihar but are also involved in providing
biomass power to other parts of the world as well.
Apart from setting up biomass power plants in rural areas, HPS also carries out efforts in improving the
economic status of the people living there.
One such initiative was taken in Bihar where the company took efforts in training women living in a
village in Bihar and trained them to make agarbattis from the char waste that was left behind while
converting rice husk into power. Details of the same are provided below:
Each plant serves around 400 households, saving approximately 42,000 litres of kerosene and 18,000 litres of
diesel per year, significantly reducing indoor air pollution and improving health conditions in rural areas
Providing a better quality and cheaper way to meet the energy needs of the rural communities through biomass,
and creating an ecosystem around each biomass plant by providing income generation opportunities to local
farmers and entrepreneurs.
Since 2007, about 400,000
kWh of electricity has been
generated from biomass that
equals the annual
consumption of 6,000 rural
households. 51 group biogas
plants, set up as part of the
project
Website: http://www.huskpowersystems.com/
Biomass Energy for Rural India (BERI) Location: Tumkur district in Karnataka State, India Type of Entity: Public Sector Founder/ Partners: N. Sampath Kumar RE/ Clean tech Sector: Biomass Projects for the Rural Communities Biomass Energy for Rural India (BERI) Project sponsored by GEF-UNDP, ICEF,
Government of India and Government of Karnataka is being implemented in
India to demonstrate the local objective of decentralized renewable energy
production technology to augment the rural energy needs and capacity
building of the local communities to manage the system in a sustainable way.
The project aims at developing and implementing a bio-energy technology package to promote a
sustainable and participatory approach in meeting rural energy needs.
The project is being implemented in a cluster of about 24 villages of Tumkur district in Karnataka State
of India. A case study of one such village in the Tumkur district has been highlighted below:
Case Study 11: Agarbattis from Char Waste
Location: West Champaran District , Bihar Community population: 350 Activity: Waste management
HPS is trying out new ways to make agarbattis out of the char waste left behind while converting rice husk
into power at its rural power plant in Bihar. The company claims that this seems to be working out and is
progressing with the experiment, and has come a long way.
The company aims to provide employment to thousands of women across the district. As of August 2010,
HPS has sequestered 50,000 tons of CO2, and employed and trained more than 300 local people for
running and managing its power plants.
Through agarbattis it hopes to create a livelihood for the women as well.
Developing and implementing a bio-energy technology package to promote a sustainable and participatory
approach in meeting rural energy needs
Website: www. bioenergyindia.kar.nic.in
M/S Aruna Electrical Works
Case Study 12: First village in India to sell power to grid
Location: Kabbigere village in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka Community Population: 1000 + Activity: Biomass Powered Village with self-run biomass power plants.
Kabbigere is a tiny hamlet and a semi-arid village tucked deep inside the Tumkur district of Karnataka in the Southern Indian state of Karnataka, 2 hours north of Bengaluru.
The households of this village mostly earn their living through agriculture or work at farms.
Since 2007, this village has been generating power and selling it to the grid through biomass. The gram
panchayat sells the biomass generated power @ Rs. 2.85 kWhto BESCOM (Bengaluru Electricity Supply Company)
This project is a joint initiative between UNDP- BERI along with the GEF, ICEF and Government of Karnataka’s
Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj.
The biomass gasification plant @ Kabbigere is designed to operate on woody biomass with a maximum ash content of 6%. The feedstock required for the plant operation is supplied from the captive plantation being developed over 3000 ha of land growing fast growing species trees. Kabbigere has a lot of eucalyptus trees and this is commonly used as a biomass source to generate power. The village also has other trees. Therefore, eucalyptus is one such feedstock that is commonly used.
There is a reduction in carbon generation through energy plantations. Locals are regularly trained by the
Indian Institute of Science in Bengaluru and employed in the power plants, increasing generation of skilled
labor and employment.
The biogas plants obtain the organic waste for fuel from nurseries set up by 81 self-help groups, providing
income generation opportunities for women from marginalized communities
Irrigation needs of the villages have been met by building 130 bore wells from the electricity produced, each
shared by five families.
175 households cook with cleaner fuel without any increase in operational costs. Average household income
has increased by 20 per cent because of the income generating opportunities provided by project.
Facilitating rural electrification by designing and fabricating biomass gasifiers to cater the needs of the rural
communities
Location: Villupuram, TamilNadu, India Type of Entity: Private Company Founder/ Partners: RE/ Clean tech Sector: Biomass gasifier project
Aruna Electric Works, based out of Villupuram, Tamil Nadu designs biomass gasifiers ranging
from 10KWe to 5 MW that are suitable for power generation as well as for thermal
applications.
The company has taken initiatives to electrify some villages in Madhya Pradesh through biomass power.
Efforts carried out by this company @ Kasai Village, Madhya Pradesh has been highlighted below:
Website: http://www.arunaelectricalworks.com
Case Study 13: Electrification through Biomass Plants in Madhya Pradesh
Location: Kasai village in Madhya Pradesh Activity: Biomass to Power (Gasifier System designed by Aruna Electrical Works) Kasai village located @ Madhya Pradesh is a remote, forest-fringe adivasi (tribal) village with 55 households and a population of 392. The village is not connected to the grid and therefore has no access to electricity. The village is endowed with abundant biomass resources in the form of wood (from forests and farmland), crop residues, and cattle dung and oil seeds. Traditional biomass (dung, wood and charcoal) continues to be used for cooking and heating purposes in the village. In 2005, the Government has been supporting a project in this village to generate electricity from a small, 10 KW biomass plant. Although the government is funding 100% of the capital costs, studies reveal that the project is being managed by the local community, with some technical support from the local Forest Department. For instance, villagers are responsible for gathering biomass for the plant and collecting Rs.120 a month from each household (£1.55p) to meet the plant’s operating and maintenance costs. The village now has access to fuel efficient stoves, biogas, biodiesel and biomass gasification systems for electricity generation. The village has 2*10 KWe gasification plant installed under this project. These gasifier systems have been installed by Aruna Electricals. The uniqueness of this power plant is that electricity is generated using a producer gas engine, which has been specially developed for this purpose. Source: http://www.eai.in/green-communities/electrification-through-biomass-plants-in-madhya-
pradesh/
Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited
Location: Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Mofatraj P. Munot, Founder & Chairman Activities: Biomass plant using agricultural waste and crop residues as inputs, Wind energy
Kalpataru Power is one of the companies around the globe to get registered with UNFCCC in 2005 and
has benefited from CERs (Certified Emission Reduction) generated from its biomass plant in the
Ganganagar district of Rajasthan.
The second biomass plant at Tonk @ Rajasthan achieved Gold Standard Certification in 2009. It is the
only premium quality standard for carbon emission reduction projects with added sustainable
development benefits and guaranteed environmental integrity
Website: http://www.kalpatarupower.com/index.html
Case Study 14: Biomass in Rajasthan: Electricity Generation from Mustard Crop Residue in Rajasthan
Location: Ganganagar & Tonk District in Rajasthan
Activity: Biomass power generation
KPTL operates two biomass energy generation plants, one 7.8 MW unit in the Ganganagar
district of Rajasthan and another 8MW power plant in the Tonk district of Rajasthan by
combusting mustard crop residue and cotton stalks as fuel.
The mustard residue is obtained from the local farmers living in the vilalges around the
Ganaganagar District and the Tonk district.
Importantly, it has entered into long-term power purchase agreements (PPAs) and wheeling and
bankings agreements (WBAs) for all the power generated as well as a long-term agreement for
the sale of carbon credits.
Implementing multiple rural electrification programs in the state of Bihar, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and West
Bengal
Nishant Bioenergy Limited, India
Location: Chandigargh, Punjab, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Ramesh Kumar Nibhoria Sector: Biomass pellet based cookstove Nishant Bioenergy produces carbon-neutral biomass briquette stoves as a cheaper, greener replacement for LPG stoves in university kitchens and roadside canteens. To provide its stove users with fuel, Nishant is now starting a fuel pellet factory which will produce 100 tons of pellets per day and partnering with other producers in 4 Indian states.
The company has come with specialized smokeless chulas that runs on biomass (crop waste) from
farmers living in villages. One such initiative was carried out in a village in Punjab. The farmers were able
to make an additional income by selling the crop waste. Details of a case
Website: http://ashden.org/winners/nishant
Greenway Grameen Infra
Location: Belapur, NaviMumbai, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: NehaJuneja, Co-Founder Sector: Smokless stoves that runs on biomass for villages
Case Study 15: Biomass based cook stoves – Sanjay Chulas& Improvement of the Economic Condition of
the Villagers.
Location: Punjab Activity: Biomass based cook stoves
Nishant Bioenergy developed Sanjha Chulha (combined stove). Made of brick, it is designed specifically for institutional scale cooking. The stoves cost US$3000 each, but the saving on fuel (LPG) is US$350 a month.
It is fuelled by the crop waste produced by local farmers. This waste is sold by the farmers to local
plants that compress it in to briquettes for fuel use.
Estimates suggest that farmers’ annual income is 10% higher as a result of selling on the waste.
Providing sustainable carbon neutral energy solutions and creating employment opportunities through low cost
cook stoves and processed biomass fuel pellets through various local stakeholders
Developing innovative biomass solutions for rural consumers based on the company’s unique heat transfer
technology
GGI is a collaborative effort between enterprising individuals, institutions and NGOs to create and satisfy
rural markets and infrastructure needs in a sustainable manner. The team comprises of technology
experts, designers, sociologist and marketers to provide innovative and holistic solutions.
The company has been involved in executing climate change mitigation and adaptation projects across
the country, and has organized community-led projects and need-analysis consulting in a wide array of
areas including agro forestry, primary energy supply and water access.
Website: http://grameeninfra.blogspot.in
Ankur Scientific Energy
Location: Gujarat Type of Entity: Company Founder: Dr.B.C.Jain, Founder Sector: Biomass gasifiers Ankur Scientific Energy started in 1986, has been in the forefront of development activities in the area of
non-conventional energy sources. It was founded by Dr. B.C.Jain, a leading technocrat of India in field of
renewable sources. The company has successfully developed and commercialized a very wide range of
biomass gasifiers.
Ankur has also involved itself in electrifying in many rural areas across India. A case study providing
details of a project carried out by them in Gosaba Island located in the Sundarbans have been
highlighted below:
Case Study 16: Greenway Smart Stove
Location: Mumbai Community population: Villages Activity: Biomass based cook stoves
Greenway Grammen designed a single burner, high-efficiency cook stove for everyday domestic use with solid biomass fuels (wood, cow dung, agro-waste and more).
It consumes 65% less fuel and produces 80% less smoke than traditional mud cookstoves thereby reducing Household Air Pollution (HAP).
This smart stove can save over 1600 Kgs of wood and mitigate over 2 tonnes of Greenhouse Gas emissions per stove per annum.
66% of all Indians and nearly 86% of rural Indians rely on these types of fuel. They offer loading capacity and stability for loads up to 25 kgs.
Facilitating biomass electrification through development, manufacture of biomass gasifiers
Website: http://www.ankurscientific.com/
Case Study 17: Gasifiers installed for village electrification @ Sundarbans
Location: Gosaba Island, Sunderbans Community population: 2,55,000 Population Activity: Rural Electrification through biomass power plants
Gosaba Island is one of the 54 inhabited islands (out of a total of 104 islands) in the Sundarbans, a 75 large mangrove forest region situated on the Ganges Delta. The cropping pattern here depends almost completely on monsoon. This island had no access to electricity.
In order to provide electricity to the rural households of Gosaba, the West Bengal Energy Development Association (WBREDA) formed the Gosaba Rural Energy Co-operative in 1996 with the responsibility to provide power to Island people with the help of the state and central Government.
Biomass Resources @ Gosaba - The main fuel is biomass in the form of tree branches, twigs and bark (70%). The support fuel is diesel (30%). (Diesel is used here because when this plant was built; up till then the technology for generating power using only biomass was still not available). Local people called it the “wood electricity” plant. Now @ Gosaba - The Gosaba Village has become a mini town due to availability of electricity. At the same time, it is maintaining its own entity as a village due to its isolation from the mainland
There is a hospital in Gosaba where people are now operated due to availability of continuous power supply.
The Gosaba Island has a computer education centre as well as a video shop and a studio. The entire life-style of the people has changed. The availability of electricity has allowed students to
study at night and secure good results in examination. Small-scale industries – lathe machine units, boat-repairing works, and grill welding – and domestic iron
implements sharpening machines and machines to grind spices like chilli and turmeric, using automated electricity-operated machinery have been established in the region.
An operation theatre has been made functional in the Government Health Centre in the Island. With the availability of refrigerators, it has become possible to store life-saving vaccines or medicines.
Highlights of island electrification
Caters to about 600 households
No disruption till date
6 hours operation daily and now increased to 16 hours
Tremendous boost to education, economics opportunities and social/cultural activities
Specification of village irrigation:
Start up through battery
Specific fuel consumption: less than 1.3 kg/kWhr
Operated by women’s self help group
Case Study 18: Biomasss Power Plants in Villages of UP and Bihar
Location: Garkha, Itwan and Bhatgain in UP and Bihar. Community population: 500 + Activities: Biomass to power
SRE is setting up 100 off-grid village electrification power plants totalling 3 MW across Bihar and UP.
They have set up 3 power plant totalling 200KW capacity which supplies electricity to local users
in Saran district of Bihar. This is the first plant in India which uses the corn cobs as one of the key material.
Apart from corn cobs, woody shrubs, waste wood and other agricultural wastes are used to
generate electricity.
Saran Renewable Energy
Location: Saran, Bihar, India Type of Entity: Private Company Founder: Vivek Gupta, Founder Sector: Electricity from agricultural waste Saran Renewable Energy Pvt. Ltd (“SRE”) is a social enterprise run by a group of agriculturists & entrepreneurs. It operates in two areas that are critical for rural development:
Energy access using off-grid rural power plants. We generate electricity from agricultural waste (husk, corn cobs, corn stalks, local weeds, etc).
Rural livelihood programs called “Village Development Program” (wastelands reclamation, improved
agriculture, setting up micro industries)
The company’s model is community oriented which delivers social and economic benefits to the rural poor, enabling them to increase their income, have access to energy and improve their quality of life.
Website: http://www.saranrenew.in/
Delivering social and economic benefits to the rural poor, enabling them to increase their income, have access to
energy and improve their quality of life
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Biogas
Agriculture, Crafts, Trades and Studies (ACTS)
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: KenGnanakan , Founder Sector: Biogas production using organic waste in rural areas ACTS Institute in Bangalore was started in 1979, by Dr Ken Gnanakan with his wife Prema.
The work at ACTS includes a number of projects, including slum schools, a village community health
centre, bio gas production, and government-recognised schools and colleges that provide affordable
quality education across India.
Website: http://www.actsgroup.org
Avani Bioenergy
Location: Kumaon, Uttarakhand, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Rajnish Jain, Co-Founder RE/ Clean tech Sector: Biogas Avani Bio Energy Ltd is part of the non-profit organization AVANI, and creates conservation-based
livelihood opportunities by using renewable energy and other technologies to enhance the lives of low-
income households of the Kumaon situated in the Himalayan region.
Through its gasification process, Avani Bio Energy converts hazardous pine needles into clean and
affordable energy.
By feeding electricity into the grid, Avani is enabling villages in the region to increase their electricity
access without becoming more reliant on hazardous energy sources such as kerosene.
It builds and operates pine needle gasification power plants in northern India. The power plants convert
hazardous pine needles, which propagate forest fires, into safe, clean energy which is fed into the grid to
provide more reliable energy access to villages throughout northern India. By products from the power
plants like pine char are used as a replacement for kerosene as a cooking solution.
Avani Bioenergy has constructed about four bio gas plants were constructed in the villages of Bhanyun
and Sukna in the Himalayas.
More information about the project is not available to EAI at the present moment.
Website: http://www.avani-kumaon.org/?page_id=364
Providing total development to the rural communities through projects that revolve around education,
environment and health programmes
Facilitating and bringing clean and reliable energy source to the villages in Northern India
Integrated Sustainable Energy and Ecological Development Association
(INSEDA)
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: Membership Organisation with 50 NGO's Founder: Sector: Biogas development in rural areas Activities: Biogas development in Rural Areas, Solar lighting, Solar Cookers, Micro hydel projects, Biomass gasifiers, Wind energy systems, Energy audit and applications, Briquetting. INSEDA is the national India organization formed by the grassroots NGOs who had been involved in the promotion of renewable energy, ecological and natural resources development programmes with special focus on the implementation of biogas development in rural areas of the country, since 1980. INSEDA is a membership organization, at present having about 50 Indian NGOs as its members. The member organizations had been operating as an informal network for more than 15 years before establishing INSEDA as a formal body. The INSEDA also has Foreign Contribution Act (FCRA) Number from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), Government of India, to receive foreign funds for implementing developmental projects/programmes in India. The area of operation of INSEDA is the entire country. Website: http://www.inseda.org
Maverik Biomethane Projects Pvt. Ltd. (MBPPL)
Location: Alkapuri, Vadodara, India Type of Entity: Private Company Founder: ViharPancholi- Founder and Director Sector: Biogas Production, Vermi composting Maverik Biomethane Projects Pvt. Ltd. (MBPPL) offers tailor made solutions for treatment and disposal of solid and liquid organic wastes using high rate biomethanation techniques. They design, construct, fabricate, integrate and execute biogas projects of small to mega scale on “turnkey” basis. They enable rural areas to become self-sufficient in their energy requirements. Through their social re-engineering programs they assist villagers to improve their standard of living. Activities:
The company designs, constructs, fabricates, integrates and executes biogas projects of small to mega scale on “turnkey” basis. MBPPL has a dedicated Community Project Cell. Its primary
Promotion of renewable energy, ecological and natural resources development programmes with a special focus
on the implementation of biogas development in rural areas of the country, since 1980
Offering tailor made solutions for treatment and disposal of solid and liquid organic wastes using high rate
biomethanation techniques
Case Study 19: Akodara Biogas to Power project
Location: Sabarkantha District, Gujarat Community population: 200+ Activities: Biogas Plantsfor Rural Households
Biomethanation plant of 85 Cu.Mt/Day capacity has been setup in Gujarat.
The beneficiaries are local villagers. They keep their animals in Cattle Hostel constructed near their residents. Everyday animal dung is collected through underground sewerage to collection sump. It is mixed with water and feed in the anaerobic digester, which produce biogas with 60% methane.
The raw biogas is purified partially to remove excess hydrogen sulfide (H2S) to bring the biogas to
tolerable level of H2S. The gas then passed through gas collection tank & pressure regulatory tank via blower before injection in the biogas engine.
The installed capacity of Biogas Engine is 12 KWh, which is connected with average 15 HP load for
pumping the water from underground tank to overhead tank, general lighting purpose and thermal applications within the Animal Hostel premises.
Maverik Biomethane provides “Turn Key" solution for all types of biogas &biomethanation
projects viz. commercial, domestic, industrial, institutional, community, etc. for numerous end applications i.e. cooking, power generation, vehicle fuel, thermal, hybrid power pack with solar panels, etc.
objectives are to work for the upliftment of inadequately privileged people of the society, to make villages clean & green by promoting & using biomethane technology; Community Biogas Projects helps villages to keep clean besides making them self dependent for energy & fertilizer needs. Such project addresses health & hygiene issues along with child labour & education in the region. One such initiative is the one carried out in some villages of Gujarat. Details of the project are provided below:
Website: http://maverikbiomethane.com
SKGSangha has constructed the highest number of family
size bio-gas plants in India: a total of 64,000 plants; they
have also installed 200,000+ improved fuel efficient wood
fuel stoves for the rural sector.
SKG Sangha
Location: Kolar,Karnataka, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Dr.VidyaSagar RE/ Clean tech Sector: Biogas, Vermicomposting, Eco stoves, Rainwater harvesting, Solar Power SKG Sangha is a not-for-profit organisation, founded in 1993 to promote development and the use of
renewable energy technologies in South India.
SKGS has a turnover of US$3.8 million and
employed 1,100 people, with 1,600 working
indirectly for the organisation.
The organisation is engaged in a variety of
economic, agricultural, social and environmental
empowerment activities in rural India.
SKG Sangha has set up biogas plants in several plants in and around the rural areas of India, one of the
initiatives carried out by the NGO in Hermarlahalla village is provided below:
Website: http://www.skgsangha.org
Case Study 20: Biogas Plants Hermarlahalla Village, Karnataka
Location: Hermarlahalla village, State of Karnataka Activity: Biogas Plants
SKG Sangha has installed biogas plants in the village of Hermarlahalla in Karnataka.
The biogas plants installed in this village have a capacity of about 25-50 m3 gas per day.
The output residue (slurry) from the biogas plant can be used directly on nearby land as a fertilizer.
SKGS has enabled biogas owners to produce a better quality and saleable fertilizer from the residue,
by including vermicomposting units with biogas plants.
Using these units, women of this village make compost from biogas residue and fibrous organic
material, which is then re-digested by earthworms.
The resultant vermicompost improves the quality of family crops (such as rice, ragi, coconuts and
vegetables), and the liquid output from the vermicomposting unit can be used to suppress insect
pests.
Women can earn about Rs 12,000 per year from selling about half the vermicompost that they
produce, which nearly doubles the family income.
The villages also have toilets attached to domestic biogas plants.
Creating a community united through a common vision and its many dedicated volunteers to help both rural
women and the environment through sustainable cleantech solutions
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Organic Farming
Rural Opportunity for Social Elevation (ROSE)
Location: Bageshwar, Uttarakhand, India Type of Entity: Small self help group Founder/Partners: Sector: Organic Farming in hamlets of Gujarat Activities:
ROSE promotes organic farming and permaculture( Permaculture is a branch of ecological design, ecological engineering, and environmental design which develops sustainable architecture and self-maintained agricultural systems modelled from natural ecosystems) by using local sustainable crop seeds with organic compost and manure for farmers in villages across north India
Website: http://www.rosekanda.info/index.php
Navreet Energy Research and Information (NERI)
Location: Rohtak,Haryana Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Dr. S. D. Malik, Founder Sector: Organic farming, Biomass powered irrigation pumps Navreet Energy Research and Information (NERI) is a registered society working in the field of eco-friendly energy and optimum utilization of natural resources and its management for up-gradation of livelihoods of rural community in a sustainable way. Activities:
NERI is implementing a project on clean and green energy technology and organic farming concept towards Empowerment and better livelihoods of Farmers with the Small Grants Program.
The specific objectives of the project are: To implement and propagate clean practices of energy, towards irrigation in fields by
biomass powered irrigation pumps. To promote organic farming, use of bio-pesticides and vermi-composting at rural level, using
locally available resources for environmental and economic benefits, Enriching the fertility of soil and helping farmers in getting more value form the agriculture fields.
The project aims at promoting biomass waste as an ideal fuel and demonstrating its use for running irrigation pumps and use of available biomass, animal and kitchen waste in the form of manure and bio pesticides.
Website: http://sgp.undp.org/index.php?option=com_sgpprojects&view=projectdetail&id=9241&Itemid=205#.UNSP7OTqlZg
Improving the livelihood, health, education and quality of life of the rural poor in this region while maintaining
cultural integrity and ecological balance
Working in the field of eco-friendly energy and optimum utilization of natural resources and its management for
up-gradation of livelihoods in rural communities in a sustainable way.
Heal the Soil
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: SnehalTrivedi, Co-Founder Sector: Organic farming in villages
"Heal the soil" is one simple solution to tackle our social and environmental challenges. We take care of
our soil, our natural resources and manage our water use, we will get back our green planet. At HTS
(Heal the soil) we do not wait for governments, policy makers, huge organizations or big companies to
initiate such projects. We do it 'One seed at a time, One house at a time'.
With the help of organic farming experts, community leaders and volunteers, we help start-up small
vegetable gardens in village homes, provide seeds and permaculture training to local people which
enables them to grow their own organic veg and fruits in their own premises.
Activities: With the help of organic farming experts, community leaders and volunteers, Heal the Soil
helps start-up small vegetable gardens in village homes, provide seeds and permaculture training to
local people which enables them to grow their own organic veg and fruits in their own premises.
They have set up an organic garden @ Auroville in Pondicherry where Permaculture classes are also
conducted. Details about the project is below:
Website: http://www.healthesoilcsa.org/index.html
Navdanya
Case Study 21: Village kitchen garden @ Pondicherry
Location: Villages around Auroville region (near Puducherry)
Activities: Organic farming
Volunteers along with Heal the Soil team, organic farming experts and community leaders visit several
villages in different places and help those villagers to grow their own organic vegetables and fruits near
their house. Permaculture training will be given to those villagers.
This is an on-going project, every Sunday the team visits a village and introduces the permaculture
introduction workshop.
Volunteers will be charges Rs.200/head which will be used for the buying seeds, tools and providing
free trainings to the village communities.
Discovering ways to blend natural farming, traditional practices, sustainable agriculture, resource management,
water management and local knowledge to introduce and implement organic farming and permaculture in India
Supporting local farmers, rescue and conserve crops and plants that are being pushed to extinction and make
them available through direct marketing
Navdanya has helped set up 111
community seed banks across the country, trained over 5,00,000 farmers in seed sovereignty, food sovereignty and sustainable agriculture over the past two decades, and helped setup the largest direct marketing, fair trade organic network in the country.
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: Research Foundation for Science, Technology and Ecology Founder: Vandana Shiva, Co-Founder RE/ Clean tech Sector: Composting, Organic farming Navdanya started as a program of the Research Foundation for science, Technology and Ecology (RFSTE), a participatory research initiative founded by world-renowned scientist and environmentalist Dr.Vandana Shiva, to provide direction and support to environmental activism. Activities:
Navdanya is a network of seed keepers and organic producers spread across 17 states in India. Navdanya means nine crops that represent India's collective source of food security. The main aim
of the Navdanya biodiversity conservation programme is to support local farmers, rescue and conserve crops and plants that are being pushed to extinction and make them available through direct marketing.
Website: http://www.navdanya.org/
Navdanya has so far successfully conserved more than 5000 crop varieties including 3000 of rice,
150 of wheat, 150 of kidney beans (rajma), 15 of millets and and several varieties of pulses,
vegetable, medicinal plants etc.
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Waste Management
EGP s model of waste management has earned
certification as a AAA-rated Green Business for
preventing the emission of 5,062 tons of carbon
dioxide from waste in 2009.
EGP’s solutions for waste management have been
documented and promoted by UNICEF, endorsed
by UNDP, sponsored by PepsiCo, commended by
the media and replicated in over a dozen localities.
Chintan
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Bharati Chaturvedi - Founder and Director Sector: Solid waste handling, plastics recycling, training and organizing wastepickers and eliminating child labor from recycling.
Chintan is a Delhi-based NGO that works on providing green jobs, security and dignity for the urban
poor especially for those who make their living as rag pickers. Chintan works with wastepickers and
other recyclers, to convert waste to social wealth, to reduce ecological footprints.
The NGO’s initiatives include research, campaigns, policy interventions, building capacity among
those engaged in recycling, and creating awareness about the need for reduced consumption and
better waste management among the middle and upper classes.
They have enabled rag pickers to get identity cards from the municipal corporation, set up
cooperatives, intervened in their difficulties with police and authorities and linked them with
government development schemes.
Detailed case studies of how Chintan has transformed the lives and many families of rag pickers are
here - http://www.chintan-
india.org/documents/research_and_reports/chintan_manual_carving_opportunities.pdf
Website: http://www.chintan-india.org
Exnora Green Pammal
Location: Pammal,Chennai, TamilNadu, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Mangalam Balasubramium Sector: Solid waste management Exnora Green Pammal (EGP), a non-governmental Organization,works with residents, authorities, schools and the private sector to minimize waste and pollution in a suburb of Chennai – Pammal.
Exnora has been successful in a number of initiatives taken by them.
EGP has been commended by the UN in 2006 for carrying out sustainable practices in a suburb of Chennai – Pammal.
Providing green jobs, security and dignity for the urban poor especially for the rag picker community.
Working with residents, authorities, schools and the private sector to minimize waste and pollution so that
India's children will someday experience the pride and joy of living in a nation that ranks among the world’s
cleanest
EGP has also been documented by UNICEF in 2008 as one of five innovative solid waste management projects in Tamil Nadu
EGP has been promoted by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2009 for replication of EGP’s Municipal Solid Waste Management throughout the state.
Website: http://www.greenpammal.in/overview.html
Case Study 22: Waste Management @ Pammal, Chennai
Location: Pammal, Chennai Community population: 200,000 Residents Activities: Waste management
EGP serves over 200,000 residents and provide employment for over 400 people.
Everyday, 9 tons of recyclable materials and 25 tonnes of biodegradable are removed from waste streams
by EGP thereby reducing the waste stream by 80%
Their model of waste management earned EGP certification as a AAA-rated Green Business for preventing
the emission of 5,062 tons of carbon dioxide from waste in 2009.
EGP pays Rs 500 to the municipality for each tonne of compost that EGP produces from the municipality’s
waste, and Rs 100 per tonne of recyclable material recovered. Therefore, EGP pays around Rs 35,000 and Rs
45,000 per month to the municipality
They have taken considerable efforts for nearly a decade in managingMuncipal Solid Waste (MSW) in India
and are working towards making India litter free!
The plants electricity that illuminates about 50 street lamps @ Pammal.
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Energy Efficiency
Green Energy Foundation (GEF)
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Arun Kumar Sekhar- - Founder and Chairman Sector: Energy Conservation & renewable energy Green Energy Foundation based out of Pune is a NGO that has been working on the following since 2009.
Energy Conservation & renewable energy Water Conservation Environmental education; Youth & Women empowerment
Activities: Water Conservation, Green Buildings, Environmental education, Youth & Women
empowerment Some of their notable projects include - Sustainable water management program for
Buchkewadi village, Junnar Block, Pune district in association with NABARD, 2010 Save the water campaign in association with UNESCO, 2010. GEF has carried out sustainable activities in rural areas of India, one of their initiative was the
water management program that was carried out in Buchkewadi village in Pune where a dam was built for the 1600 odd villagers living there. More details about the project is below:
Website: http://www.greenenergyfoundation.in/
Case Study 23: Sustainable Water Management Program @Buchkewadi Village, Pune
Location: Junnar District, Maharashtra Community Population: 1625 Activity: Water Conservation and Management
Buchkewadi Village located in Junnartaluka, Maharashtra. The water requirement of the entire village is met through a minor irrigation dam built under a USAID program.
The village uses the pumps by rotation under each society to irrigate the individual land holdings. The pumps are generally in service during the month of October to March.
The village reduces the wastages through smart monitoring and effective controls. The daily water and energy use is closely monitored by the water committee set up by the village.
Key Benefits of this Project:
Meter Monitor Audit and continuously Optimize Water and Energy use Improve water availability for effective utilization by 71% Immediate energy savings of 27.57% and an overall saving potential of 67% Reduction in CO2 emissions by the village by 35 Tons/annum. Improvement in livelihood and income by 33% with additional employment months, with an increase
in the income of the village.
GEF is India's First NGO working on
green buildings and now appointed as "Promotional Partner" representing GRIHA across India. GEF has been associated with national & international organizations such as UNESCO, NABARD, MNRE (Government of India), TERI.
Propagating the ethos of sustainable living and disseminate knowledge to accomplish development with minimal
hurt to Mother Earth while simultaneously endeavouring to reverse at least some of the damages caused by our
generation and those which preceded ours.
Case Study 24: Sun king project- Distribution of Solar Lanterns in Indian Villages
Location: Chikanpada village, Orissa Activities: Solar electrification
Green light planet distributes lanterns in the western state of Maharashtra, the southern state of Karnataka, and the eastern states of Bihar and Orissa.
They sold the Sun King, a light-emitting diode, to villagers at a discounted price of $4 compared to $15 that they regularly sell for. The company made up the difference with monetary support from Rotary Club Bombay Queens.
Sunset used to be bedtime for 10-year-old Ankash Govind. Chikanpada village, three hours from the bright lights of Mumbai, has not had electricity for the last eight years.
Now, he spends his nights reading to his siblings by the light of a solar-powered lantern called the "Sun King." They were sold last year to about 400 subsistence farmers in the village, converting them from smoky, expensive kerosene lighting to a cleaner and cheaper alternative.
Greenlight Planet
Type of Entity: Private Company Location: Mumbai, India Founder: Mayank Sekhsaria Sector: Energy Efficiency Green Activities Greenlight Planet is combining cutting-edge technology with innovative distribution networks to
commercialize low-power LED lanterns. A project carried out by Greenlight planet in distributing energy
efficient lanterns in a village in Orissa is explained below:
Website: http://www.greenlightplanet.com/
- ARTI
Combining technology and innovative distribution networks to commercialize low-power LED lanterns
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – Water Conservation
and Management
Case Study 25: Sustainable Drinking Water Programme @ Kerala
Location: Idukki district, Kottayam district, Alappuzha district – Kerala State Operational Features:
Demonstrate application of integrated low cost modern and traditional technologies to solve
drinking water scarcity.
Eco restoration through natural catchment area treatment measures.
Strengthen Participatory water shed management model in the context of Kerala State
Result:
Provided safe and adequate drinking water to 94% of the households in midland project area
and 76% of families in Highland project area.
Reduced soil erosion and increased ground water recharge.
Made innovations to make RWHS cost effective and user friendly.
Successfully implemented Bi-dimensional approach in addressing the issues. Short term
measures for intensive problems and long term measures for sustainable solutions.
Mallanadu Development Society
Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Location: Kerala Founder: Fr. Jose Tharappel Sector: Small micro-hydel projects, Sustainable agriculture, Rain water harvesting, Natural resource management Green Activities:
Mallanadu Development Society implemented a community based rural micro-hydro project in Tulappaly village, Kerala with a grant of $26,883 under the Special Grant Programme of UNDP. Details of the project are provided in the box below.
Promote water and soil conservation practices for the sustainable management and protection of natural resources.
Website: http://www.malanad.org/
Enhancing the quality of life of farmers, women, children and other marginalized communities through
decentralized institution building, participatory development processes and application of sustainable
technologies respecting the environment, culture and heritage.SE
Manthan Location: Bhopal, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder/Partner:
RE/Clean tech sector:
Manthan gramin Evam Samaj Sewa Samiti is an NGO working intensively in the rural area of MP and Chattisgarh state of India. The main motto of the organization is socio-economic up-liftment of the rural masses through intensive training, entrepreneurship development and technology dissemination of renewable energy, agriculture and allied sectors. This centre is recognized by Government of India under the ministry of labour GOI New Delhi. Activities:
Collecting rain water from roofs of rural schools to underground water proof tanks. The main motto of the organization is socio-economic up-liftment of the rural masses through intensive training, entrepreneurship development and technology dissemination of agriculture and allied sectors.
Website: http://www.manthansplsgsy.org
Case Study 26: Solar Powered Desalination Plant @ Kotri Village, Rajasthan
Location: Kotri village, Rajasthan Community population: 1000 men, women and children Activity: Solar electrification
Barefoot college along with Manthan had set up a community-level solar powered desalination
plant.
This plant meets the drinking water needs of more than 1000 men, women and children residing
in the Kotri village.
A family is charged INR 40 per month for use of 1200 litres of water.
A similar plan of this kind has also has been started in some suburbs of Mumbai
Socio-economic up-liftment of the rural masses through intensive training, entrepreneurship development and
technology dissemination of agriculture, clean technology and allied sectors
Since 1999, about 6200 devices installed by the TIDE
entrepreneurs have conserved about 1.1 lakh (0.11 million)
tons of biomass fuels. This intervention by TIDE is one of
the very few successes relating to dissemination of energy
efficient stoves and dryers to the rural communities.
Sri Ratan Tata Trust & First Solar
Location: Mumbai, India Type of Entity: Trust Founder: Jamsetji Tata Sector: Drinking water schemes in coastal villages Activities:
First Solar and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust plans to collaborate on a solar power pilot project to provide a reliable supply of safe drinking and irrigation water to rural communities in India’s middle Himalayas region.
Website: http://www.srtt.org
Technology Informatics Design Endeavour (TIDE)
Location: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: N V Krishna, Chairman Sector: Energy efficient stoves, Waste management, Energy efficient dryers, Energy Efficient kilns, Rain water harvesting TIDE (Technology Informatics Design Endeavour) is an organization devoted to promoting sustainable
development through technological interventions.
TIDE aims at being a link organisation connecting the research in various research institutions and the
need of the community.
The work of TIDE is to match the technology needs of the community with the research from the
research institutions and assess their suitability, and if needed also engage with the community for
participatory technology adaption and finally enable widespread dissemination.
TIDE has partnered with community-based
organizations and self help groups (with a focus
on womens’ SHGs) to develop rural enterprises
that generate income from
*Construction of household stoves,
*Charcoal making from waste biomass
*Various dryer based enterprises
Providing safe drinking water and irrigation to rural communities in India's northern Uttarakhand state
Contributing to the sustainable development of communities through environmentally benign technological
interventions
TIDE is currently working with 14 rural entrepreneurs and 20 women’s groups for dissemination of
energy efficient technologies for biomass fuel utilization.
Activities:
The company has designed and implemented rain water harvesting systems in more than 25
places including villages, large public utility areas like Bangalore Planetarium and schools
TIDE enables complete transfer of knowledge to local entrepreneurs for sustainability
It has delivered over a 170 projects in the areas of Renewable energy/energy efficiency, water
and environmental management, women and livelihoods, training, technologies for informal
process industries and building local enterprises.
TIDE has carried out initiatives that promote fish drying with the use of biomass fired dryers.
This not only dry the fish but also provide employment to the rural women. Details of one such
project carried out by TIDE is provided below:
Website: http://tide-india.org/
Case Study 27: Promoting Fish Drying Using Efficient Biomass Fired Dryers by Rural Women
Location: Bangalore, New Delhi and Mumbai Objective of the Project:
The project aims at empowering a disadvantaged section of society in managing a common asset for theirown welfare.
It also aims to use an environmentally benign technology for creation of enhanced incomes by reducing the processing time and effecting an improvement in the quality of the dried produce.
The project also aims to demonstrate the acceptance of an appropriate technology by a gender sensitive dissemination strategy.
Methodology: The brief methodology for the project implementation would be as follows:
Interaction with local fishing communities and local organizations and obtaining information on the
current fish drying operation.
Identification of local Non-Government Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
working with the fishing community, especially fisher women.
Selection of women self help groups as partners / beneficiaries of the project.
Installation and demonstration of a biomass fired dryer of the appropriate capacity.
Training of the women in the use of the dryer and maintenance of the same.
Development of plan for the commercial exploitation of the dryer during the non fishing months and
therefore creating incomes during a financially stressful period.
Assistance in the development of new marketing linkages if required by the women.
Developing a mechanism of ‘pay and use’ for the dryer by members of the self help group or hiring of the
dryer to non members.
Formation of a local committee for managing the assets created by hiring of the dryer and decision making
about the use of the assets for the benefit of the community.
Organization of local meetings among the neighbouring fishing community for the promotion of the dryer
and evolving a plan for its replication
Source: http://www.jeef.or.jp/EAST_ASIA/?job_listing=technology-informatics-design-endeavour-tide
Entities Empowering Rural
Communities – All Renewable Energy
Sectors
Rural Electrification Corporation (REC)
Location: New Delhi, India Type of Entity: Public sector Founder/Partner: Sector: Electrification of villages - Solar, Biomass Rural Electrification Corporation Limited (REC), a NAVRATNA Central Public Sector Enterprise under Ministry of Power, was incorporated on July 25, 1969. Its main objective is to finance and promote rural electrification projects all over the country. It provides financial assistance to State Electricity Boards, State Government Departments and Rural Electric Cooperatives for rural electrification projects as are sponsored by them. Activities:
REC provides financial assistance to State Electricity Boards, State Government Departments and Rural Electric Cooperatives for rural electrification projects as are sponsored by them.
REC provides loan assistance to SEBs/State Power Utilities for investments in rural electrification schemes through its Corporate Office located at New Delhi and 17 field units (Project Offices), which are located in most of the States.
Website: http://recindia.nic.in
Asian Development bank
Location: Chanakyapuri, New Delhi Type of Entity: Microfinance, Funding for rural households using solar lanterns Founder: N/A Sector: Agriculture, Energy, Health Activities:
The Asian Development Bank aims for an Asia and Pacific free from poverty. Approximately 1.7 billion people in the region are poor and unable to access essential goods,
services, assets and opportunities to which every human is entitled.Sinceits founding in 1966, ADB has been driven by an inspiration and dedication to improving people’s lives in Asia and the Pacific.
Economists, sociologists, engineers, gender experts and environmental scientists are amongst the hundreds of professions at the bank working together to reduce poverty, and ensure growth across the Asia and Pacific region is sustainable and inclusive.
Website: http://www.adb.org
Improving electrification of the rural areas of India
Aiming for an Asia and Pacific free from poverty by providing them with power, clean drinking water and other
sustainable solutions
Desi Power
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: Company Founder: Dr. HN Sharan, Founder Sector: Renewable energy technologies for villages Activities: Desi Power uses renewable energy technologies like biomass charcoal production, biomass
combustion, biomass gasification, energy plantation and agro-forestry, methanation:biogas, mini hydro,
solar photovoltaic, solar thermal, wind generators for decentralised rural power plants.
Website: http://www.desipower.com
OMC
Location: Worli, Mumbai. Type of Entity: Company Founder: Anil Raj, CEO & Co-Founder Sector: Solar, Wind, Biogas The company has been established by industry veterans, and the stakeholders in OMC are strategic in
nature with vast experience and expertise in the energy, finance and telecom sectors.
OMC is a new type of power company that builds small-scale power plants with renewable sources
where there is no reliable power grid today. We sell power to both mobile networks and rural
communities. And offer additional services to both customer segments – managed services, O&M, Cable
TV, Internet and much more.
The micropower plants also have battery banks and diesel generators for backup, as well as a power
management system for optimal energy efficiency and remote access.
Case Study 28: Biomass Power Generation for 100 Villages in India
Location: Araria District Activity: Biomass power generation Employee and power partnership program (EmPP) will supply 10 clusters of 10 villages with a 50KW biomass plant and the total power generated will be 500KW/cluster and 5MW for 100 villages. EmPP ensures identification, organization and training of local promoters / owners of each village plant.
Engaged in rural development through the provision of energy and energy services especially in the biomass
sector for power generation to supply power to various applications like households, mobile towers, small
industries etc in the rural areas
Building small-scale power plants with renewable sources especially solar for the rural sector where there is no
reliable power grid.
Mithradam is the first fully
solar educational institution in India dedicated to the promotion of Renewable Energy, especially solar energy in India. Mithradham has been offering training programmes in solar energy with international experts for the last ten years.
Website: http://www.omcpower.com/
Mithradam
Location: Aluva, Kerala Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder:
Sector: Solar, Wind, Organic vegetables & fruit cultivation Activities: Providing electricity for rural communities across India, conducts training programs for people belonging to the rural communities.
Mithradam is a Kerala based NGO that works towards the propogation of
renewable energy in India. Mithradham hasdemonstrated an electric
supply network which could be easily copied for rural electrification for
Indian villages. By adopting the model (Mulitfunctional Energy Roof )each
hut of the village could be an energy producer feeding the village net work.
Case Study 29: Solar Power Supply for 300 Households in Uttar Pradesh
Location: Hardoi, UP Activity: Solar electrification
Solar charges batteries are delivered to homes in an out-of-the-box move that promises cheap
and uninterrupted power supply.
The model involves generation of electricity at an 18Kw solar plant at Jangaon in Hardoi, from
where it reaches the village homes in rechargeable batteries contained in a box.
The light is milky white. The pressure on the eye is less when kids are studying. The noise from
the fan is low and the child who studies is not disturbed by this solar charged batteries.
Providing electricity for rural communities across India as well as conducting training programs for people
belonging to the rural communities
This organisation has tie-up with different technology providers in Germany and each of their roles have
been highlighted below:
Website: http://www.mithradham.org/
Cummins
Location: Pune, Maharashtra, India Type of Entity: Company Sector: Bio Fuels, Bio Gas, Waste Management Activities: Cummins (fabricator of 100% gas engines) supports Village Energy Security Program with the objective of establishing a Distributed Generation Model for Rural Electrification of small remote villages/ Hamlets. Uses locally available renewable energy like straight vegetable oil from non-edible oil seed grown locally, biogas (from cattle dung, kitchen waste and oil cake)
Company Role
BEMO Germany, Maas Profile, Germany Roofing Solutions
Weurth Solar, germany Solar Panels
AIM-Accumulatoren Nuernberg, Germany
Battery storage
Lapp Group, Germany Cables
DDS GmBH Germany Energy Efficient Lighting
Case Study 30: Electric Supply Network for Rural Electrification
Location: Aluva, Kerala Activities: Providing electricity for rural communities across India, conducts training programs for people belonging to the rural communities.
They provide electricity through solar, wind and biomass for rural communities across India. They conduct training programs for people belonging to the rural communities.
A multifunctional energy roof has been built and this can be used as a model for rural
electrification.
Mithradam has demonstrated an electric supply network which could be easily copied for rural
electrification for Indian villages.
More details - http://www.eai.in/green-communities/2012/12/07/renewable-energy-centre-for-
rural-electrification-kerala-india/
Serving and improving the communities by building stronger and cleaner communities by providing non-
electrified villages with equipment’s designed and manufactured by Cummins such as generator, gas-engines etc
Website: www.cummins.com
Case Study 31: Power to Remote Areas of Padarwadi Village, Pune
Location: Padarwadivillage, Pune Community population: 250+ Activity: Rural electrification Cummins Power Generation, working in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and a local non-government organization (NGO), developed, delivered and installed a bio-fuel generator in Padarwadi, to power a rice husker and also to pave the way for a rural electrification model. The village of Padarwadi is located about 110 kilometres from Pune. The people of Padarwadi are essentially subsistence farmers than rely on the income from their 35-ton annual rice harvest. A key step in processing the raw rice is de-husking. Problem Faced by the Villagers - Throughout the year, the villagers would transport the rice by hand to another village to use its electric de-husker. The journey required scaling over a kilometer of steep foothills and a return trip for the final cleaning and polishing process. Without electricity, the residents had no way to de-husk the harvest efficiently themselves. Working with the Cummins Engine Research Facility (CERF), a partnership with IIT Mumbai, and Maharashtra Arogya Mandal, Cummins India met with villagers to explore solutions. The result was an electric generator that could use oil extracted from local pongamia seeds for fuel. The seeds are readily available and considered a renewable (green) fuel as well. The emission by products are equally innocuous. The energy produced powers the village’s new electric de-husker and other needs—making the village much more self-sufficient. Now, the entire harvest process is conducted efficiently and more cost-effectively in Padarwadi. The company as a part of its corporate sustainability program provided a Cummins generator that
run on vegetable oil using 3 edible seeds from the village thereby providing power to the village.
This village is located in a rocky mountain and can be reached by foot. Cummin team visited this
place and helped them to carry all the equipments along with the village residents, including the
engine which weighed 250kgs.
Once all the equipments’ where brought to the village it was assembled and set for work. They had
power and the rice mill was set to work.
Thanks to the new generator, they are selling hulled rice, rick husks and oil and cake from harvesting
and milling Pongomia seeds. The oil and can be used for medicinal purposes and the cake can be
used as fertilizer. This has resulted in significantly more revenue that’s helping to improve the
quality of life in the village.
Case Study 32: Computer Education through Solar Powered Bus for Rural School Children in
Karnataka
Location: Chitradurga, Karnataka Activity: Solar electrification
Don Boscoschool located @ Chitradurga district of Karnatake proposed to create a mobile bus that has laptops that can be taken to rural areas. The bus travels to different rural schools and act as a mobile computer lab for rural school children.
Since these buses reliable power for the laptosp to run, SELCO has provided mobile solar charging station that charges the battery for the laptops.
Bus travels with a computer teacher, who ensures that children are given the right exposure to the basics of computer.
The installed capacity of solar module is 400W. The laptops are designed for 6 hours daily usage. 3fans and 1 light are also provided in the bus.
Laptops are charged primarily through solar daily and can be used continously for 6 hours a day. The bus also has three fans and one light.
By this 50 students are benefitted from computer lessons, hands on experience with laptops and other accessories and practical demonstration of solar energy usage.
SELCO
Location: Bangalore, Karnataka, India Type of Entity: NGO/Social Enterprise
Founder: Dr. H Harish Hande RE/ Clean tech Sector:A set of sustainable energy services SELCO Solar Pvt. Ltd, a social enterprise established in 1995, provides sustainable energy solutions and services to under-served households and businesses. SELCO aims to empower its customer by providing a complete package of product, service and consumer financing through grameena banks, cooperative societies, commercial banks and micro-finance institutions. Activities:
SELCO aims to empower its customer by providing a complete package of product, service and consumer financing through grameena banks, cooperative societies, commercial banks and micro-finance institutions.
SELCO currently employs about 170 employees in Karnataka and Gujarat spread across 25 energy service centers. Since 1995, we have sold, serviced and financed over 115,000 solar systems to our customers.
Website: http://www.selco-india.com/
Enhancing the quality of life of underserved households and livelihoods through sustainable energy solutions and
services
