Innovation

Dungarpur Renewable Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (Durga Energy) is a private limited solar module manufacturing company established through investments from four Cluster Level Federations (CLFs - Antri, Biladi, Jhontri and Punali), and grants from Rajasthan Tribal Development Fund, Rajeevika, Nagar Parishad, and Idea Cellular CSR, with IIT Bombay as the knowledge and technology partner.

Durga Energy evolved out of the successful implementation of Dungarpur Solar initiative by the four CLFs. It is noted that this initiative (solar lamp assembly and distribution) by the Cluster Federations received the 2017 Prime Minster’s award under Innovation Category; and the award was received by the then District Collector Mr. Solanki. The local women attached with this initiative raised a corpus amount in a short span of 8 months, which has been invested in setting up of the solar module manufacturing plant.

The first-of-its-kind solar module manufacturing company is managed and operated by local tribal women who underwent rigorous training in technology and operations.The innovation here was the making of Do-It-Yourself assembly kits of student study lamps. These kits could be easily transported as they are packaged in smaller packs & also, they provide access to a safe to a source of lighting for children to study.

Inspiration

Facing with the fact that last mile consumer reach of electricity still faces a lot of challenges, SoULS has been implementing the affordable study lamp project that strive to provide locally integrated energy solution. Apart from the huge investment required for settling up a conventional grid, the hilly terrain, scattered nature of settlements and low paying capacity of households adds to the difficulty. The technological innovation was done by IIT Bombay. This was done as part of the initiative of the ministry of New & Renewal Energy, Govt. of India. The project was undertaken from the support of the Rajeevika scheme of the Govt. of Rajasthan.

Overall impact

This is the first manufacturing facility to be completely run by Adivasi Women in India. It created a whole ecosystem, thus creating employment and benefits to many. This model has been expanded across the country and over 6 million such lamps are already in use in the country.

The impact of DURGA Energy is following-

(i) Empower women through skill transfer of solar technology and create livelihood through it;

(ii) Provide appropriate energy access (via off-grid solar systems) to the community and;

(iii) Create local solar ecosystem to ensure sustainability.

Business benefit

This innovation helps the overall business of making affordable lighting solutions accessible to a fixed number; 40,000. It also required the setting up of a manufacturing plant. Since, it has specific objectives to meet, it is more of a mission. The company can get to breakeven and profit within next five years. 136 women were trained in assembling the solar study lamp and they have distributed 40,000 solar lamps, 5 solar shops were operational and 19 'Solar Sahelis' were employed with these shop entrepreneurs. The corpus for future solar-related activities was INR. 80 per every lamp sold, while the subsidized cost for the beneficiaries was INR 200 per lamp. Thus, this initiative enabled women CLFs to generate the corpus of INR. 25 Lakhs. As a part of it, the company will do the following:

(i) manufacture and sell solar modules (sub 100Wp panels);

(ii) provide a range of solar solutions to the local community, including installation and service, (e.g. Solar home powering system, solar pump, solar street lights, etc.);

(iii) support local rural solar retailer/ entrepreneurs, and;

(iv) provide livelihood opportunities for the local community

Social and environmental benefit

▸ Percentage of households with electricity access is low at 39%; as a result remaining 61% households depend on kerosene as a main source of light.

▸ Since, access to light and energy has multiple implications on gender, education, health, quality of life, poverty and economic development, provisioning of energy solutions that are clean, reliable and affordable for poor and marginalized communities becomes a priority.

▸ In short, it will help in education of children and reduction of kerosene consumption.

Interviews

Mr. Saurabh Kataria, Business Executive

Mr. Gunvant Nahate, Team Lead