As of today, worldwide there are approximately 3 billion people who lack access to clean-cooking solutions and are exposed to dangerous levels of air pollution. Additionally, slightly less than 1 billion people are functioning without electricity and 50% of them are found in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. In a recent survey by Smart Power India, in association with Rockefeller Foundation and the NITI Aayog, it is suggested that nearly 87% of the country’s population has access to grid-based electricity, while 13% either use non-grid sources for electricity and lighting or don’t use any electricity at all.
Since ancient times, Indian culture and tradition have recognized and respected the indestructible bond between man and nature. However today, the depletion and degradation of energy sources due to exploitation by humans have disturbed the delicate balance of nature, unleashing calamities in the form of unprecedented natural disasters and novel diseases. Restoring the lost harmony of nature is hence, the most pressing need of the modern world. Amrita under the guidance of our has been at the forefront of sustainable and renewable energy research, seeking to redirect the world from its present path that threatens to endanger the future of our planet.
In India, the wide urban-rural divide in energy availability and access is another area of concern, setting back the rural population in all areas of development. In seeking to address the power access and availability crunch in our adopted villages which were directly impacting education, skilling, communication, industry, and employment, we began to explore affordable alternative sources of energy. Research for remedying this has produced innovative results in clean energy harnessing and distribution such as rural electrification micro-grids from sources such as sun and water, which can be replicated and scaled across the country. Renewable energy technology research is underway for smart building management, hybrid energy distribution networks, affordable water treatment, clean drinking water solutions, bacteriophage based sanitation solutions, and low-cost infrastructure for sanitation, among other target areas.
Amrita Wireless Smart Grid
Approximately one-third of India’s 600,000 villages do not have access to electricity and villages that do, receive power intermittently and with constant disruption, making the supply of electricity unreliable. Furthermore, a lack of locally qualified electricians and maintenance follow-ups leaves much to be desired in the endeavor to bring electricity to rural India.
The idea for Amritasphuranam, a project to light up rural India, was envisaged and suggested by the Chancellor that it would be good if the Center developed a research project in this area that would benefit rural communities as they are often neglected and lack basic resources. Under her guidance, a Microgrid prototype was worked on by a group of researchers who aimed to solve the problems of power theft, fault detection, and manual billing among others. After a few years of research and testing, a sustainable model for a solar Microgrid was developed.
With the funding from the Institution’s parent NGO, the M.A. Math, Amrita Sphuranam, a project to light up rural India utilizing self-sustainable Microgrids and renewable energy, was created.
The details of the first implementation of this project are as follows:
IoT System For Solar Based Rural Electrification
The project was officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Oomen Chaandy, on September 27, 2014. The particular site is at Vellaramkunnu, Mothakara, Wayanad, which is a tribal region with several tribal houses scattered over the hills. It is inhabited by a tribal population of 40 families comprising around 260 people in 42 huts. Before being adopted as a part of the Amrita Self Reliant Village Project, the villagers in Mothakara were in a complete state of distress as they lacked basic amenities including access to power. Lack of electricity posed an array of issues related to health, safety, hygiene, etc. To put an end to their suffering, under the guidance of our Chancellor the parent organization adopted the village.
The Amritsphuranam project was officially inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Oomen Chaandy. As a result, in September 2014, the complete electrification of this tribal village was achieved by Amrita University. As per the geographical conditions, the solar power generation unit was adopted as the best choice for rural electrification for this region. This has paved the way to enable further improvements in social, economic, and educational areas. The University provides training to the local community, as a means to self-dependence, which can be remotely monitored and managed from Amrita’s Amritapuri campus. Researchers at Amrita plan to replicate its success in several other villages across India through the Amrita Self Reliant Village project (Amrita SeRve) led by the Mata Amritanandamayi Math.
Solar-powered Steam Distillation Unit for the Production of Lemongrass Oil
Over the past several years, the village of Mothakara, located in the Wayanad District of Kerala, has faced severe economic instability. Lemongrass is prolific in Wayanad and traditionally the people of this village prospered through the production and sale of its oil. Most people know the lemongrass plant for the lemony zing it brings to cooked dishes, but it also has several health benefits and uses, making its oil extremely valuable. Unfortunately for the people of Mothakara, their method of using firewood as an energy source for distillation was both labour intensive and energy inefficient. It took village women a several-kilometer walk to the forest to collect 50kg of wood to create only 100-150mL of oil in a 2-hour distillation process. In addition, the distillation units were mostly owned by wealthy businessmen who paid minimal wages.
Ultimately, the government placed a ban on the use of firewood owing to its unsustainability, forcing the people of Mothakara to abandon the production of the oil and to seek jobs elsewhere. Many of them walked long distances to work in fields under exploitative wages, only just earning enough to feed their families. Others were unable to find work, causing several families to enter into poverty, and the village succumbed to a sustained state of economic depression.
As guided by the Chancellor, the team from Amrita worked with the people of Mothakara to understand their situation and determined that self-reliance was key for moving forward. After several brainstorming sessions, they realised that another renewable power source could be used to continue their generations-old practice of producing lemongrass oil, and the idea of a solar thermal-based steam distillation unit was born. The energy source is perhaps the most impressive part of the design, harnessing the energy of the sun. Overall, the 3-year project has been a huge success, bringing a second source of revenue for village women and empowering a village.
Amrita Micro Hydro-Electric System – Illuminating Rural India Via Renewable Resources
Many villages in India do not have access to electricity. Villages that do receive power, do so intermittently and with frequent disruption, making the supply of electricity unreliable. Komalikudi, a tribal settlement in Kerala well-known for its abundant natural resources, is one such village. Tribal settlements are very often neglected and the villagers succumb to poverty, lack of infrastructure, and a lot of health issues. As a part of the compassion-driven initiatives led by the Chancellor, the team from Amrita worked with the villagers and assessed the requirements of the village to better the lives of the villagers from an overall standpoint.
The team implemented a plan to provide electricity to the village from available hydro resources. The micro-hydro generator, constructed by the perennial water stream, currently provides 24/7 electricity to 8 homes, 2 street lights, the multi-grade learning center, the village’s Anganwadi (pre-school), and the youth center. Furthermore, each home has 4 connection points with 3 lighting points and a plug point. Villagers currently use energy-efficient 7 watt LED bulbs for energy conservation.
A vocational skills trainer in Komalikudi, Mrs. Shobana, said, “Earlier we had to close down our work by 5.00 p.m. as there was no light in the room. Now we have electricity from the micro-hydro generator so we can work at night. We are so grateful to Amma and her children for the help.” Echoing her sentiments, Mrs. Vellamma, a volunteer at the village’s Anganwadi said, “Now we have lights in the room so students can study at night. Many thanks to Amma. We are so grateful to Amma for the support.”
In addition to the micro-hydro generator and electric system, the team has designed and installed a water distribution system in the village. With the electrification of the community center, many educational and social activities can be conducted in the village such as screening the latest films, putting on plays, and running community development and awareness programs.
Aside from access to electricity, villagers now have access to potable water throughout the year via the water distribution system which receives power from the micro-hydro generator. With direct access to water and electricity, many villagers’ lives have greatly improved. This is particularly seen in the areas of sanitation and education.
In the field of sanitation, villagers are now more motivated to use toilets due to the direct access to running water. Consequently, easy access to water and sanitation facilities decreases the risk of contracting preventable and infectious illnesses. Access to sanitation facilities also increases the overall health of the village and encourages children and adults to adhere to better hygiene practices.
In the field of education, more than 50 students can continue their studies without being deterred by a lack of electricity. The multi-grade learning center in the village also benefits from the supply of electricity during the day and for tuition classes in the evenings. Furthermore, with a continuous supply of electricity to the village’s Anganwadi, learning technologies can now be used to support the fundamental and primary years of education of young minds.
