The Sept 10, 2010 issue of the Economist has an interesting article, Power to the People, that describes a growing number of initiatives to promote bottom-up ways to deliver energy to the world’s poor.
The link to the complete article is: http://www.economist.com/node/16909923 and below are links to organizations mentioned in the article:
D.light – http://www.dlightdesign.com
- His firm has developed a range of solar-powered systems that can provide up to 12 hours of light after charging in sunlight for one day. D.light’s most basic solar lantern costs $10
Emergence BioEnergy Inc. – http://www.emergencebioenergy.com
- (EBI) is a Lexington, MA based company exploring alternative energy solutions for low-income and developing countries around the world. EBI was founded and is headed by Iqbal Quadir, the visionary and catalyst behind GrameenPhone, the largest provider of cellular services in Bangladesh.
Husk Power Systems – http://www.huskpowersystems.com
- Husk Power Systems, an Indian firm, uses second-world-war-era diesel generators fitted with biomass gasifiers that can use rice husks, which are otherwise left to rot, as a feedstock. Wires are strung on cheap, easy-to-repair bamboo poles to provide power to around 600 families for each generator.
Lemelson Foundation – http://www.lemelson.org
- Invests in clean-energy technologies for the poor.
MicroEnergy Credits – http://microenergycredits.com
- A social enterprise which links microfinance institutions to the carbon markets when they lend for clean energy. MEC sells the carbon credits earned by replacing dirty fuels like kerosene, wood, coal and dung on the voluntary carbon markets and passes the carbon revenues along to its partner institutions. The institutions can then use the revenues to offset their costs of running the clean energy program or can pass the savings along to the client in the form of reduced interest rates, free battery replacements or other benefits. In 2008, MEC won the Global Social Venture Business Plan Competition for its innovative business model which makes accessing the carbon markets easy for MFIs.
Selco India – http://www.selco-india.com
- SELCO Solar Pvt. Ltd, a social enterprise established in 1995, provides sustainable energy solutions and services to under-served households and businesses. It was conceived in an effort to dispel three myths associated with sustainable technology and the rural sector as a target customer base:
Solar Aid – http://www.solar-aid.org
- Solar Aid, a non-profit group, specialises in setting up microfranchises to identify and train entrepreneurs. The organisation works with local authorities to identify potential entrepreneurs, who must gather signatures from their local community—providing both the endorsement of their neighbours and a future customer base. They then undergo five days of training with an exam at the end. Solar Aid is also testing a kiosk-based system to help entrepreneurs distribute LED lighting in the Kibera district of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
