Solar Electrification, the Peeli Batti Project - United Way India

Solar Electrification, the Peeli Batti Project

Solar Electrification, the Peeli Batti Project

Peeli Batti Project: United Way India’s mission to connect rural/peri-urban belts of India to solar mini-power grids and help them in better livelihood opportunities, continued education, becoming self sustainable, & preventing migration by comfortably using 100% clean electricity.

Overview

India is in the early stages of a green energy boom led by the private sector, in terms of operations and its life cycle. Solar energy is sustainable, renewable and available in abundance. The cost of using solar power to produce electricity goes down every year.

The Global Carbon Budget 2022 report states that if the emissions stay at the levels they are in 2022, it will take just 9 additional years for atmospheric CO2 to reach catastrophic levels leading to 1.5°C global warming. Emerging economies such as India account for 67% of carbon-dioxide emissions from energy in the past year.

There is a huge potential of switching to solar based electricity for community based organizations and nonprofits. Renewable Capacity Statistics 2023, by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) shows that 83% of all power capacity added last year was produced by renewables. There is an untapped potential to shift to a cleaner approach. However due to capital cost, many are at a disadvantage especially remote locations in rural India. Conventional electricity is a far-fetched dream in many villages in India even today. Due agricultural focus, ongoing needs of the community, and adoption to solar based electricity will help mitigate access to electricity and its potential emissions thereby providing a two pronged approach to improving lives by creating sustainable source of electricity and creating a ripple effect by improving health, education and livelihood opportunities.

The Need

Lack of reliable electricity in rural areas is impeding the economic progress of the villages and is depriving the villagers of the basic quality of life. It is estimated that still many rural communities in India are off the power grid or have erratic power supply for 4-5 hours in a day. The power supply is of extremely poor quality, as low as 130-140V line voltage, as against the normal 230V. Also, most of the rural communities face power outages that are frequent and for long duration; running into 6-10 hours per day.

The Benefits

  • Adoption of clean energy
  • Cost-effective solutions covering the most marginalized villages
  • Creation of livelihood opportunities and overall improvement across health and education levels

Our Intervention

United Way India is working towards enhancing livelihood and income generation activities such as solar powered irrigation, solar powered cold storage/refrigeration for storing marketable surplus of vegetables and fruits, solar powered tailoring etc. using the proposed solar powered electricity infrastructure in these villages in addition to providing the basic lighting and fans. This benefits the entire village with additional income, increased productivity for women, enhanced safety and health, additional reading/ study hours for children leading to enhanced academic performance. Reliable solar powered electricity along with clean cooking at each home eliminates the use of kerosene lamps or firewood which significantly reduces the carbon footprint in the environment of these villages.

Beneficiaries

271 household of 5 Villages of Palghar District in Maharashtra

Impact Till Date

1355 residents of 5 Villages of Palghar District in Maharashtra

To know more, write to us at info@uwindia.org

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