Solar DC programme in off-grid regions in India

GS7467

Project Implementation

Technology developed by the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras

The project involves the installation of Solar based PV systems for households in remote areas of rural India that have little or no access to electricity. The technology used is a unique solar powered Direct Current Inverterless solution for lighting and other basic household electrical appliances. The project displaces fossil fuel use, such as fuel-based lighting systems, stand-alone power generators, and fossil fuel based mini-grids, thus resulting in GHG emission reductions.

Some of these homes are situated on hilly terrain, in deserts, located remotely across rivers. The best immediate option is to provide distributed solar-dc systems.

The solar photovoltaic system produces DC power, the batteries take in and out only DC power, and most appliances and fixtures are DC powered. Where the typical AC-to-DC conversion, and vice versa, amounts to large losses, especially when the power levels used are small, the DC distribution at homes reduces the losses drastically resulting in lower costs, overall. The solar-dc system can be significant in reaching electricity to remote villages in India.

Country: India

Existing Systems: in the states of Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Madhya Pradesh and J&K

Location

Annual average emission reduction over the crediting period

Approx. 25,000 tCO2 per year

Number of SystemsApproximately 50,000

Duration of the Project

5 Years

Implementation PartnerCygni Energy

THE BENEFITS - SDGs Addressed

Girl Child The girl child now has access to lighting in the evening, which helps with imparting of education in the rural areas.

Indoor Air QualityFamily members will be exposed to fewer air pollutants by the reduced use of fossil fuel powered lighting such as kerosene lamps, thus reducing emissions of black carbon, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide & other particulate matters.

Energy AccessFamily members have access to electricity for their daily activities from the solar based PV systems. This access is beneficial for both regular lighting as well as adaptation during disasters such as floods.

35,000-40,000 people will benefit from improved air quality

35,000-40,000 people will have better access to clean energy.

Human & Institutional CapacityThe programme as part of its large-scale promotion and advertising has facilitated capacity development among the employed staff through trainings and workshops.

Employment OpportunitiesThis programme has given rise to employment opportunities for new technicians, assistants, office staff and other related jobs.

Livelihood BenefitsCircumstances of poor families has improved due to reduced fuel costs. The Solar DC system uses less fuel, which in many areas can be a scarce resource or very expensive to buy.

Mitigation of Climate ChangeOne of the many goals of the project is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through the dissemination of solar DC home lighting systems.

Local people will have more job opportunities as a result of the project.

35,000-40,000 beneficiaries will have a better standard of living.

Total ERs over 5 years will be in the range of 80,000 tCO2e

VNV ADVISORYVNV Advisory Services has been at the forefront of working with climate change and livelihoods. Our decade-long experience has seen us develop low-carbon projects that support these communities in getting their basic needs while adapting to and mitigating the harsh impacts of climate change. We work in areas of clean cooking, social forestry, sustainable agriculture, rural energy access and many other related community based technologies. With support from over 40 NGOs and implementation partners, our work encompasses over 4 million rural households and 50,000 hectares of forest areas under management across the South Asian (India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar and Sri Lanka) region. We have also been able to engage with businesses to address issues of Social Responsibility, Environmental Sustainability and Carbon Neutrality.

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