EnergySwaraj Yatra solar bus made a stopover at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore campus on 30 March 2022.  This 11 year-long Energy Swaraj Yatra (2020- 30) is being undertaken by Dr. Chetan Singh Solanki, a professor from IIT Bombay, brand ambassador for Solar Energy for Govt. of Madhya Pradesh, and Founder of the Energy Swaraj Foundation, who has pledged not to go home until 2030 and live & travel in the solar bus so as to bring awareness and encourage actions toward climate change mitigation and the adoption of 100% solar energy by the masses.  Prof. Solanki also delivered a thought-provoking presentation on  “Energy, Climate change and I” for the benefit of the students. Based on his inputs and suggestions, plans are afoot to reduce electricity consumption by 10%, promote energy literacy training for all students, and ramp up solar power installations in Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Coimbatore campus

Brief about Prof. Solanki’s Talk and Energy Swaraj Bus

Climate Change, Energy Swaraj and I

Abstract: Energy is Everything and Everything is Energy. Gandhiji’s statement that “Earth has enough for everybody’s need but not for anybody’s greed” is as fundamental as the fact Sun rising from the East. However, in contradiction, the world economies are increasingly trying to produce more and consume more. This contradiction is fueled mainly by fossil energy(80-85%), leading to another contradiction wherein increasing energy consumption is required to maintain economic growth, while rampant use of fossil energy is causing climate change.

Climate change is threatening not only sustainable life but the sustainability of life on the planet. We have only 7-9 years left before we reach global warming of 1.5^oC (IPCC report). Therefore “drastic” and “immediate” actions are required to mitigate climate change.

The solution lies in adopting Energy Swaraj or generating and consuming energy locally. Adopting Energy Swaraj will also help in skill development, livelihood creation, energy independence, local economy strengthening, and of course, climate change mitigation. To create a public movement and establish Energy Swaraj across, an 11 years long Energy Swaraj Yatra (2020-30) through a solar bus is undertaken by Prof. Chetan S. Solanki, IIT Bombay. Prof. Solanki lives in bus and has pledged not to go home for 11 years.

The talk covers philosophical, technical, economic, social, and environmental aspects of energy and climate change, along with a demonstration of the Energy Swaraj bus having facilities for working, meeting sleeping, cooking, washing, and training.

About Energy Swaraj Yatra Bus
Dr. Chetan Singh Solanki, a professor from IIT Bombay, brand ambassador of Solar Energy for Govt. of MP, and Founder of the Energy Swaraj Foundation, has pledged not to go home until 2030 and live & travel in the solar bus. Prof. Solanki lives in the bus. It is his mobile home. The bus has the facilities to go through all daily activities. Energy Swaraj Yatra bus will be demonstrated after the talk. The bus is fitted with 3.2 kW solar panels and 6 kWh of battery storage. It has a 3 kVa inverter. Lights, cooler, cookstove, TV, AC, laptop charging inside the bus are all solar-powered. The engine of the bus runs on diesel.

Brief Bio of Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki

Professor at IIT Bombay
Founder of Energy Swaraj Foundation
Brand Ambassador of Solar Energy for Madhya Pradesh
Also referred as “Solar Man of India” or “Solar Gandhi”
Contact Person- Prof. Kiran J.(7975401571) / Prashant (9004331695)

Prof. Chetan Singh Solanki is an educator, researcher and innovator who is currently on unpaid leave from IIT Bombay. He has undertaken Energy Swaraj Yatra through from Nov. 2020 through a solar bus for 11 years, until 2030. In this yatra, Prof. Solanki has pledged not to go home until 11 years and stay in the solar yatra bus. In the wake of serious and catastrophic climate change, this Energy Swaraj Yatra is designed with the purpose to create a public movement towards adoption of 100% solar energy.

He has been honored with the Brand Ambassador of Solar Energy of Madhya Pradesh Government. Prof. Solanki has also been referred to as “Solar Man of India” by Times of India, The Hindu and India Today. Some people also call him “Solar Gandhi.” Following Gandhian ideals, he has coined the word ‘Energy Swaraj’ and to establish Energy Swaraj globally he has founded the Energy Swaraj Foundation (ESF).

Prof. Solanki has led major solar projects at IIT Bombay. Through his SoULS project he has reached 7.5 million families providing them clean light. There are several awards to his credit, these awards includes IEEE’s global grand prize of US100,000$, Prime Minister’s innovation award for SoULS project, first prize in Solar Chulha Design Challenge by ONGC, three Guinness World Record, two Young Scientist awards, CSIR Science and Technology award, Excellence in RE Skilling, “Outstanding Green Activist” and many more.

He is also a Chairman of committee of CBSE and AICTE for solar curriculum development. Prof. Solanki has written 7 books and published over 100 research papers internationally. He has 4 US patents to his credit.

During 2019 Prof. Solanki traveled across the world covering 30 countries to spread the message of solar energy. In his ongoing Energy Swaraj Yatra he has already traveled 17000 kms reaching over 55000 people across 7 Indian states. The 11 years yatra is expected to cover travel across the country 5-7 times. The yatra aims to bring energy literacy to over 100 crore and encourage over 1 crore families to switch 100% on solar energy.

Prof. Solanki has described in his book “Energy Swaraj – my Experiments with SOLAR Truth” that adoption of Energy Swaraj or energy independence should become a public movement. His Energy Swaraj Yatra is sowing the seeds for this movement so that we all can create a better and beautiful world.