SEFA: Solar Energy For All

BACKGROUND TO THE PROJECT Rural energization and electrification has played a major role the development of rural India (in enhancing agricultural productivity and provision of lighting services for rural households). Today the forces of globalisation, free trade and instant connectivity provide new opportunities for the people living in rural India. However, to tap these opportunities and harness the potential of our resources (both manpower and natural resources), delivering quality infrastructure services has become essential and energy/ electricity services are amongst the most crucial of these services. However at present with a substantial increase in fossil fuel prices and the power situation in the country not being very encouraging, shortage in the delivery of energy/ electricity services has become critical. Growth in demand for power has outstripped supply with peak demand shortage being 12.2 percent in 2005. Many parts of the country receive electricity for only a few hours a day, the quality of which is poor. Today the average annual per capita consumption of electricity is 600 kilowatt-hours (one of the lowest in the world) and in the rural India (which house over 70 percent of the population) uses just 13 percent of the available grid power. To accelerate development of rural India, bring about greater energy security, inclusion of dispersed and remote communities in rural India as active members of the economy, there is a need for the provision of clean, high quality energy services. To achieve growth in the range of 10% GDP growth, new decentralised mechanisms for the delivery of energy and power services need to be tapped.

WHY SEFA WCE-INDIA is founded in India, dedicated to promoting the use of solar energy in rural areas of country. WCE-INDIA is now launching Solar Energy For All (SEFA) Project in Uttar Pradesh state of India. Through this project, WCE-INDIA has demonstrated that small, decentralised photovoltaic systems can affordably bring solar light and power to rural/urban households living beyond the reach of an electric grid or suffering power cuts. WCE-INDIA is ready to push the envelope one step further. Solar electricity, especially when combined with wireless communications, can facilitate dramatic improvements in the overall health, education, and economy of rural villages throughout the world. WCE-INDIA looks forward to new demonstration projects in which solar energy is used to provide power to village schools, health clinics, micro-enterprises, and tele-centers. WCE-INDIA will then communicate the results of these projects, and lessons learned, to a world-wide audience through a variety of print and electronic media. Working with NGOs as well as corporations, WCE-INDIA through a series of on-the-ground pilot projects will create new models of village-based micro-enterprise that can be replicated and expanded on a commercially viable basis. WCE-India’s long-standing practice of promoting local self-reliance will be further enhanced by the introduction of village-owned businesses that generate income for the community.

WCE TECHNOLOGIES The renewable energy technology based power generation capacity in India is an estimated 50,000 MW capacity (200 billion kWh). India has a potential of about 100,000 MW of power generation from renewable energy sources and steps are underway to harness this potential and power generation from renewable sources is also increasing. The medium-term goal is to ensure electrification of 18,000 remote un electrified villages, and achieve a minimum 10 per cent share, or around 10,000 MW, from renewable power in the overall power generation capacity to be added by 2010. The Project aims to convert all existing electric power backup & hot water systems to solar power systems (electric, fuel or gas boosted) within 10 years and ensure all installations from 2010 are solar power & hot water systems. This is an ambitious goal and will require the commitment of several parties to achieve large-scale community behavioural change. The potential benefits facilitated by the Project are compelling and are detailed within the body of this report. The Project is unashamedly focused upon Uttar Pradesh State and has been designed to enable it to be replicated with other “green” products.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE PROJECT The Project aims to convert all existing electric hot water systems to solar hot water systems (electric or gas boosted) and electric power backup systems to solar power backup systems (electric or fuel boosted) within 3 years and ensure all installations from 2010 are solar hot water & power systems. This is an ambitious goal and will require the commitment of several parties to achieve large-scale community behavioral change. Some other main objectives of project are hereunder:

1. To build a service network of social welfare organizations, volunteers, and existing wce distributors to bring a mass movement for the use of renewable energy sources among state community. 2. To increase awareness about global warming, CO2 emission, and use of solar energy among state community. 3. To provide proper sale, repairing and after sale service to users of solar energy systems through existing district sale agencies of WCE-INDIA. 4. To reduce CO2 emission, and increase solar energy systems uses to reduce electric power dependency of state community.

3. OUTLINE OF THE PROJECT ACTIVITIES 1)	Key activities BASELINE SURVEY The base line survey will be conduct by affiliate social welfare organizations in all over 70 districts of state. The survey report will be published on Internet and its outcomes will also be distributed to newspapers & news channels for wider publicity in state of Uttar Pradesh after approval of this project.

AWARENESS & TRAINING All possible avenues such as print, electronic (audio and visual) media will be utilised to create awareness through associates of sefa project. Information packages for various types of systems will also be prepared through technical institutions/ professional agencies. Support will be provided to District affiliate NGOs/Technical institutions for organising seminars/ workshops/ symposia/ training to create awareness and training on installation of the systems in rural and urban areas of state. In addition to continuing the training sessions geared toward the public, the organisation will also create individual sessions for electrical installers involved in solar and local building officials. The organisation also plans to continue training its own staff so that it may continue to offer high quality technical support and program guidance. Training will be continually re-evaluated in order to gauge efficacy and overall effectiveness of the content and presenters themselves. New training will also be developed in order to meet the needs of State’s niche markets, when sufficient information on these markets is available.

FINANCE FACILITY Finance facility for solar systems & equipment is highly recommended by survey agencies to achieve project goals. Organization is talking with various banking & government authorities for finance facility. And soon we’ll sign a MOU with some local banking/GOI agencies for term loan facility to state community. Term loan facility for solar equipment will be available through affiliate banks/co-operatives/ireda & other local banking institutions.

MICRO ENTERPRISES DEVELOPMENT It is proposed to open at least one sales and repairing centre in each big town of state to provide better after sale and repairing service to state households. WCE will provide advance training to local volunteers/electric professionals/Ngo workers for proper handling/basic repairing purpose through affiliate training institutions. After training the organisation will assist them to open sale/service centres in urban areas of state.

2)	KEY STAKEHOLDERS TO BE INVOLVED IN THE PROJECT AND THEIR ROLES WCE INDIA VAISNAVI SOLAR WORLD COM ENTERPRISES BHAGAWATI ENTERPRISES GAUTAM BUDHA SEVA SANSTHAN OM KINKAR SINGH WELFARE SOCIETY LAKSHYA SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT SOCIETY MOVEMENT FOR INNOVATION & DEVELOPMENT CHAUDHARI THAMMAN SINGH SEVA SAMITI

3)	Key benchmarks and indicators for monitoring and evaluation

WCE-INDIA shall institute adequate and appropriate arrangements for monitoring and evaluation of the project. For this purpose, the company may utilize the services of power research centers, Ngo groups, and other independent groups. There will be a quarterly meeting of all district affiliate NGOs, distributors, service centers on the second Saturday of every three month, at the Lucknow. If the day is a holiday, meeting should be held on next working day. In the meeting, the state implementing Ngo will prepare a quarterly work schedule of each district affiliate Ngo. And will collect following reports from district affiliate Ngo:  All data about last 3-month progress of project, and total solar systems installation.  Possible numbers of solar system requirement in next three months.  Problems facing in past three months during implementation of project. And new suggestion about project implementation.  Progress and demand increasing after awareness program and awareness material distribution in district.

Note: While no target need to be fixed, but for the purpose of monitoring works, some short monthly goals for district should be kept in view for achievement. The state implementing welfare organization and wce-india team would prepare a format of monthly work schedule, to be filled by district affiliate ngo and distribution/sale agencies for allocating work schedule in their districts. 4)	Potential/anticipated risks

A) Problems grass root (small cities /towns) availability of solar systems & basic technical problems handling Training for proper handling and installation of solar energy equipment will be available through a training committee of social welfare organizations & institutions. It is proposed to organise a training program in each district till end of financial year 2007-08. All solar energy equipment will be available to district distributing/sales agencies. On spot repairing and installation services will also be available through service network of WCE-INDIA. On state level, it is proposed to organise a seminar after every 3 months, for getting media & public attention. WCE is expanding it’s service and retail chain to cover the gap of unavailability, and it is proposed it will be completed till December 2007. B) Commercialisation Market analysis will be undertaken earlier in the project to ensure commercial viability of the project. It is proposed to disseminate the project results widely to attract potential industrial partners, so that more than one potential industrial partner can be identified. Preliminary discussions with industrial partners in India and abroad have been held.

C) Economics of the system (Capital Expenditure and Operating Expenditure) and achieving deployment in a population that does not have money to finance the system. While homeowners and businesses had differing concerns, one issue was common to both – system cost. Both groups were aware of the environmental benefits of renewable energy but altruism alone was not an inducement to install a solar system. Both homeowners and businesses cited the initial cost of the system as a major barrier to installing a solar system. Businesses were further concerned over obtaining reasonable rates for financing the projects and achieving a reasonable payback period on the investment. Both groups felt that possible maintenance expense could be a deterrent to purchasing a system. Finally, both groups wanted a system that would have a substantial useful life in order to increase the return on their investment. To provide term loan facility to consumers organisation is trying to make arrangements with IREDA, banking institutions and financial service providers.

4. OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT

ENVIRONMENT Use of solar electric systems will decrease the amount of local air pollution. With a decrease in the amount of kerosene used for lighting, there is a corresponding reduction in the amount of local pollution produced. Solar rural electrification will also decreases the amount of electricity needed from small diesel generators. Photovoltaic systems produce electric power with no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Carbon emission offset is calculated at approximately 6 tons of CO2 over the twenty-year life of one PV system. Small dry-cell batteries for flashlights and radios are used throughout the un-electrified rural community. Most of these batteries are disposable lead-acid cells, which are not recycled. Lead from disposed dry-cells leaches into the ground, contaminating the soil and water. Solar rural electrification can decreases the need for disposable dry-cell batteries.

ECONOMIC Project will help economically by promoting local enterprises. Small shops and village markets can use the systems to provide lighting to operate during the evening. Small businesses can utilise electric sewing machines, water pumps, and computers will also benefited by the availability of solar electric systems. Local businesses selling and servicing solar home systems will provide employment for local residents. Dealers, technicians, and local technicians all can be employed selling and servicing solar home systems. Solar home systems provide the least-cost means of receiving high quality home lighting. While providing brighter lighting, as well as access to radio and television. When low-cost financing is available, monthly payments for a solar home system are often below what a family is currently paying for kerosene, dry-cell batteries, candles, and recharging car batteries.

HEALTH Fumes from kerosene lamps in poorly ventilated houses are a serious health problem in much of the world where electric light is unavailable. The World Bank estimates that 780 million women and children breathing kerosene fumes inhale the equivalent of smoke from 2 packs of cigarettes a day. Solar electric refrigerators have a higher degree of temperature control than kerosene units, leading to lower vaccine spoilage rates, and increased immunization effectiveness.

EDUCATION Solar rural electrification will improves literacy by providing high quality electric reading lights. Electric lighting is far brighter than kerosene lighting or candles. Use of solar electric light will aid students in studying during evening hours. Photovoltaics will give rural areas access to news and educational programming through television and radio broadcasts. With the advent of television and radio, people previously cut off from electronic information, education, and entertainment can become part of the modern world without leaving home. Ongoing education classes and adult literacy classes can be held during the evening in solar-lit community centers.

5. KEY FEATURES OF THE PROJECT (i) How is our project innovative and different from conventional approaches? The project will discover new ideas and service delivery system in energy sector of state. The Project is unashamedly focused upon Uttar Pradesh State and has been designed to enable it to be replicated with other “green” products. The Project aims to convert all existing electric power backup & hot water systems to solar power systems (electric, fuel or gas boosted) within 10 years and ensure all installations from 2010 are solar power & hot water systems. This is an ambitious goal and will require the commitment of several parties to achieve large-scale community behavioral change.

(ii) How can this project catalyse the involvement of stakeholders and public support? Public private partnerships are becoming an important mechanism in the energy sector to provide and deliver energy services. Working with NGOs as well as corporations, WCE-INDIA through a series of on-the-ground pilot projects will create new models of village-based micro-enterprise that can be replicated and expanded on a commercially viable basis. WCE-India’s long-standing practice of promoting local self-reliance will be further enhanced by the introduction of village-owned businesses that generate income for the community. The participation of Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) is being expanded in the planning and implementation of non-conventional energy programs, particularly in the rural areas. This would lead not only to increased local energy supply, but also to creation of new employment and entrepreneurship opportunities. Another initiative is the promotion of renewable energy entrepreneurs for the sale, installation and servicing of renewable energy systems in small towns and rural areas. Renewable energy systems have been successfully introduced through imaginative leasing / credit packages in several parts of the state. Organization is building partnership through a process of accreditation with engineers, solar manufacturers, installers, and district sale agencies and grass root welfare organisations to provide proper service for solar energy to state community.

(iii) How can the effective implementation of the project be secured? Successful implementation of project needs a vibrant implementation plan, stable financial structure, and independent & powerful monitoring agencies. For achieving 100% project objectives in projected time, the SEFA has following features in it: 1. Districts have been classified into three categories according to availability of power supply, High, Low and medium thrust areas. The project will start from high thrust to low thrust areas and will implement in state in three stages (First, Second, & Third phase).

2. Training for proper handling and installation of solar energy equipment will be available through a training committee of social welfare organisations & institutions. It is proposed to organise a training program in each district till end of financial year 2007-08.

3. All solar energy equipment will be available to district distributing/sales agencies. On spot min. repairing and installation services will also available through service network of WCE-INDIA.

4. On state level, it is proposed to organise a seminar after every 3 months, for getting media & public attention.

5. Loaning facility for solar equipment will also be available through local banking institutions.

6. Independent monitoring agencies, including government agencies should be monitoring all project implementation and progress. After every six month the evaluation cum progress report will be published for status of project.

(iv) What kind of progressive achievements and lessons can be demonstrated by the project? Solar energy systems use the free energy generated by the sun to replace the majority of the electricity used in lighting, power backup, heating water, which comprises about 39% of the energy costs in homes. In summary, the Project has the ability to deliver the following key benefits for State of Uttar Pradesh:

 Deliver on the Premier’s vision to be a green & clean state of India.  Contribute to the achievement of many of the targets in the Sustainable Energy development Plan of government, including significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, and CO2.  Improve demand for solar energy equipment.  Facilitate cultural change among the state community, thereby increasing environmental awareness.  Grow green jobs in state of Uttar Pradesh.  Reduce household electricity demand by using solar lighting, hot water, and power backup systems.  Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by using environment friendly solar energy.

(v) How will the project contribute to enhance environmental conditions while improving socio-economic conditions? Electricity generation from fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. The adverse environmental impacts extend much further when the entire process is considered, from exploration to end-use. All fossil fuels contribute CO2, CH4, N2O, NOx, CO, Reactive Organic Gases, hydrocarbons, particulate, trace metals, and thermal pollution. Oil and coal add major sources of sulphur dioxide pollution and ash waste. Use of solar electric systems will decrease the amount of local air pollution. With a decrease in the amount of kerosene used for lighting, there is a corresponding reduction in the amount of local pollution produced. Solar rural electrification will also decreases the amount of electricity needed from small diesel generators. Photovoltaic systems produce electric power with no carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Carbon emission offset is calculated at approximately 6 tons of CO2 over the twenty-year life of one PV system. Small dry-cell batteries for flashlights and radios are used throughout the un-electrified rural community. Most of these batteries are disposable lead-acid cells, which are not recycled. Lead from disposed dry-cells leaches into the ground, contaminating the soil and water. Solar rural electrification can decreases the need for disposable dry-cell batteries.

REQUEST & APPEAL:

Energy efficiency and clean, renewable energy will mean a stronger economy, a cleaner environment, and greater energy independence for republic of India. By investing in technology breakthroughs today, our nation can look forward to a more resilient economy and secure future. Far-reaching technology changes will be essential to India's energy future. Working with a wide array of state, community, industry, and university partners, the WCE INDIA through Solar Energy For All (SEFA) project invests in a portfolio of energy technologies that will:

 Conserve energy in the residential, commercial, industrial, government, and transportation sectors.  Increase and diversify energy supply, with a focus on renewable domestic sources.  Facilitate the emergence of solar technologies as vital new "energy carriers."  Upgrade our national energy infrastructure.

WCE is trying hard to bring high demand of green energy for safe environment and culture of state, with it’s limited resources and infrastructure. To run this program and 100% achievement of this project objectives we need help and support by you. The donor agencies, corporate sector, social welfare organizations, government institutions can help our efforts by making donations, sponsorships, equipment and volunteer services. Your kind support will encourage our efforts and will bring a New Hope among local community of Uttar Pradesh State of India.

THANKING YOU.

STRONG ENERGY PORTFOLIO FOR STRONG INDIA