In July this year, a massive shutdown due to failure in India’s northern and eastern power grid left millions in dark.
However, in one tiny village ‘Khareda Lakshmipura’ close to Todaraisingh Mandal in Tonk district of Rajasthan , the lights stayed on, thanks to “Gram Power”.
Gram Power provides ultra-affordable and reliable electricity to the energy-deficient population by producing and storing renewable energy. Gram Power generates power from various sources – solar, wind, and biomass (all of which are abundantly available). The power is stored in batteries and distributed to consumers using a ‘smart micro grid’. A local entrepreneur purchases bulk energy credit from Gram Power and then sells it to the locals using Gram Power‘s prepaid energy selling device. Apart from generating grassroots employment, this makes power affordable, allowing consumers to use their disposable incomes to purchase power.
Their integrated smart microgrid technology offers:
- an innovative power management unit (PMU) in every home to provide intelligently metered pre-paid power with multiple AC and DC voltage outputs;
- distributed storage (battery backup at the household level) to minimize investment and losses related to centralized battery banks;
- DC transmission technology to prevent theft.
Now, at least 10 villages have been electrified using this technology in Rajasthan. Families in these villages no longer have to rely on kerosene, which releases pollution and causes household fires, nor do they have to pay a runner to charge their phone.
Yashraj Khaitan, the co-founder said their smart grid site is the only village in the entire area receiving reliable power on demand round the clock.
“Consumers pay Rs 75 per month under pay-as-you-go model for uninterrupted nine-hour power supply, which is less than the money they spend on kerosene. The beauty of the scheme is that villagers can buy power as per their need under a prepaid system with devices for metering and monitoring in place. The project effectively eliminates power theft and pilferage.”
According to him, this benefit should be compared with villagers shelling out Rs 10 for a one-time recharge of their cellphone from a neighbouring electrified village.
Gram Power ‘core innovation’ is in grid monitoring, theft detection and a prepayment model that ensures payment recovery. They are looking for partnerships to increase access to this technology through state and central agencies.