Challenge

200 million Indians lack access to electricity

Strategy

Bringing solar lighting, a clean and affordable solution to rural India

Impact


165,000+ people benefited 720 villages received solar electrification

 

Overview      Strategy      Impact      Stories

Overview

World Bank figures show that approximately 200 million people in India lack access to electricity. These people rely on kerosene and other fuels to light up their homes. However, using these fuels is hazardous to health and environment. Moreover, inadequate lighting makes it hard for children to study and makes medical aid inaccessible at night.

In an effort to provide a clean and affordable lighting solution to rural India, our “Light a Home” project was born. Started in 2012, the project provides high-quality and cost-effective solar lanterns, home-lighting systems and solar cookers across India. With this initiative, we have reached hard-to-access villages like Anjaw in Arunachal Pradesh, which can only be reached by foot, and river islands in Assam. Today, we have brought solar energybased lighting solutions to the more than 90,000 people in remote locations and have provided employment opportunities to many among them.

RURAL DEVELOPMENT

 

Develop rural India

Bring solar lighting, sanitation facilities, strong local governance and much more

Almost 821 households do not possess any electricity in BR ranges and we have decided to light them. I am grateful to the Art of Living organization for the solar lamps. It’s a miracle for us."

- Ivy Ku, Art of Living faculty, Taiwan

 

Light a Home Project

 

Strategy

Our strategy includes:

Our strategy includes: Through ‘Light a Home’, we distribute solar lanterns and individual ‘home lighting systems’ in non-electrified villages of India. We setup ‘Solar Centre Hubs’ across rural India to provide last mile connectivity of high-quality and cost effective solar lanterns, solar home lighting systems, solar cookers & battery charging stations.

Setting up solar microgrids: We build, own, and operate microgrids in rural belts of India, creating off-grid model villages, with access to quality lighting solutions. Our strategy is to design and develop a service-specific microgrid dedicated to providing household lighting and mobile phone charging. The design requires 90% less solar power generation capacity per customer compared to traditional solar powered microgrids.

Creating renewable energy hubs, rural engineers and entrepreneurs: We train unemployed youth in operations, maintenance, assembling, repairing, and installation of renewable energy products like solar systems, solar irrigation pumps and biogas units. Many rural youth who receive training in solar systems in our skill development centers become solar entrepreneurs in their areas.

Our three-step approach:

Last-mile energy access initiative

Providing solar lighting in hard-to-access areas

 

Setting up solar microgrids

with improved efficiency

Creating solar engineers

and entrepreneurs

 

Through 'Light A Home' project, The Art of Living has brought solar lighting to 90,000 individuals in remote locations in India.

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Impact

165,000 + people

benefited

 

720 villages

solar electrified

 

152 schools

electrified

310 women entrepreneurs

trained in solar systems

 

4,100 youth leaders

trained as renewable energy technicians

Featured stories

A multi-faceted approach to social initiatives has saved many lives,lit many smiles, and helped communities experience progress. Every piece of service work is created with dedicated analysis, thoughtful care - keeping humaneness in the forefront.

A multi-faceted approach to social initiatives has saved many lives, lit many smiles, and helped communities experience progress. Every piece of service work is created with dedicated analysis, thoughtful care - keeping humaneness in the forefront.

Contact Us

info@projects.artofliving.org+91 80 67433684

 
The Art of Living International Center, 21st Km, Kanakpura Road, Udayapura, Bangalore South, Karnataka, India 560082