Initiative : Clean Tech Initiative by Sewa International
Sewa International started Clean Tech Initiative in 2012. It is a forum of volunteers having special interest in promoting and implementing clean tech energy solutions in remote and inaccessible areas where still the electricity through conventional modes has not reached. The group is known as ‘Clean Tech Initiative’ headed by a three-member executive body. Sewa International has so far executed the projects in Madhya Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh and Rajasthan. Few projects are under progress in Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, etc. A specific team works on arranging funds for it. Under the initiative, the organisation has done two most remarkable projects in India whose success stories have motivated and given the surrounding population and other institutes the much needed confidence to adopt renewable energy.
-Swayam Prakash Baral
Krishna Devi Vanvasi Awasiya Vidyalaya is a residential school for Vanvasi girls at Majhgawan in Chitrakoot region of Madhya Pradesh. The school and its hostel is supported by Deendayal Research Institute (DRI). The school has few buildings in the campus which are used as classrooms and hostels with an electricity connection from the grid, which is highly unstable. Power cuts are for more than 12 to 15 hours daily and mainly in the evenings.
Frequent power cuts caused problem in the study of Vanvasi girls staying in the hostel. School was struggling to provide clean light to students as diesel generator was getting expensive day-by-day. When it came to the attention of Sewa International, a detailed survey was conducted. The survey found that the total electricity load including lights, fans and computers was about 1.2kw. About 24sq.m. free space was identified on the roof of the administration building. A 2 KWp solar power plant was installed on the available roof space of the school with 5 hours battery backup. The total project cost was Rs.4,02,380, out of which MNRE gave a subsidy worth Rs.1,20,714. The Sewa international arranged the remaining funds of Rs.2,81,666 through donation from NRIs in USA. From the date of its installation in 2013, the system has been supporting 17 fans, 32 CFL lights 3 TVs and 2 computers. The girls now have uninterrupted power supply in the evening to study. (July 19, 2015 Page : 20) |
Solar Power in
Arunachal PradeshRIWATCH is a community based research organisation working at Roing in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh. Even till date this District is highly dependent on electric supply from Assam. People face complete power cut for days or weeks throughout the year.
The work of RIWATCH involves study of people, their life style, their physical appearances, customs, technology, their music, dance ceremonies and rituals. It attracts many researchers across the world during various parts of the year. With the unreliable source of power it was getting very difficult for RIWATCH to continue its core activities. RIWATCH campus has 31 CFL lights, 5 street lights, 14 fans, 8 computers, and 3 TVs. After preliminary survey it was decided to construct a Canopy Based 3KWp Solar Project in its campus to support the critical load of around 2 KW. The plant was designed with a provision of expanding it to 5 KW. The total project cost was Rs. 6,08,375 from which MNRE contributed Rs 1,82,512 as subsidy. Sewa International’s Clean Tech Initiative contributed remaining Rs 4,25,863.
The success of this project became a role model in Lower Dibang Valley and surrounding districts. Many government officials have visited the campus to understand the modalities of the project. Now the district administration and a local school are planning to adopt roof top solar power plant motivated by the RIWATCH project. (July 19, 2015 Page : 20) |
Illuminating the lives of VanvasisSolar Mini-Grid Project in JharkhandDarmi and Nawadih Villages in Rehala region of Jharkhand consist of 114 households with a population of around 600, mostly depending on farming. Water supply for cultivation has been a big issue. Existing source of power supply is national grid, but the villagers hardly get power for an hour in a day, and that too under very low voltage. People still depend on kerosene, an additional burden to the economy.
Solar Mini-Grid solution was offered by Crux Power Pvt Ltd, Bhubaneshwar, after the villagers agreed to provide adequate land for Solar Module installation and to take the maintenance part of the project. Considering a basic need for household a centralised Mini-Grid system of 34.5KWp capacity was designed with a minimum power supply (total of 6 hours including morning and evening time) to each household. The provision was made so that each household pays Rs 100 in a month for maintenance and smooth functioning of the project. A village level committee was formed to look after the project.
As a result the villagers now get uninterrupted power supply for minimum 6 hours in a day. Each household gets 150W peak load power supply. A water purification system with storage capacity of 6,.000 liters cater to drinking water needs. It has increased the study hours of students. It has provided scope for further economic activities for small entrepreneurs. (July 19, 2015 Page : 21) |
(July 19, 2015 Page : 20 -21)
