rpt-feature-micro loans bring light to rural poor - solar street lighting system

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Repeat the story of 0000 moves in Greenwich time)
Cheng De Ahmad, Rina, India, October 27 (Reuters)-
When night falls in remote areas of Africa and the Indian subcontinent, hundreds of millions of people without electricity will turn to candles or flammable and contaminated kerosene lamps for lighting.
Through small loans for solar equipment, microfinance is slowly bringing light to these rural areas where the lack of electricity hinders economic development, literacy and health.
"Earlier, once the sun set, there was nothing they could do.
Now the sun is used differently.
They have improved productivity, health and society.
Economic status, "said Pinal Shah from Sewa bank.
Loan institutions.
Ramiben Waghri, who sells vegetables, borrowed a sum of money to buy a solar lantern that she used to light up her booth at night.
The price of the lantern is between $66
$112 is about Waghri's income for a week.
"From this point of view, vegetables look better, cheaper than kerosene, and can't smell," Waghri said . " She estimated that she had made about 300 rupees ($6)
And her lanterns are more every night.
"If we can use the sun to save money, why not?
"In India, solar projects, often funded by microfinance institutions, are helping the country reduce carbon emissions and achieve the goal of doubling its contribution to renewable energy to 6%, that is, 25,000 MW in the next four years. Off-
Power grid applications such as solar cookers and lanterns, after being charged by the sun during the day, they can provide hours of light at night, said Pradeep Dadhich, a senior researcher at the Energy Research Institute TERI, this will help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and reduce the carbon footprint of the fourth largest emitter.
"They are reaching out to people who would otherwise only have access to or could not have access to electricity, and their energy needs depend on kerosene, diesel or firewood," he said . ".
"These applications not only meet these needs, but also improve the quality of life and reduce the carbon footprint.
"Sewa, the Self-Employed Women's Association, is one of the growing number of microfinance institutions in India dedicated to providing affordable renewable energy to the poor, otherwise they will have to stand for hours, buy kerosene for lamps or travel miles to collect firewood and Cook.
The largest mfi sks Microfinance Company in India provides solar lights for its 5 million customers, while Grameen Surya Bijlee (
Rural solar energy)
The foundation has helped fund lighting, home and street light systems for villagers in India, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Shirish Garud, coordinator of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership, said: "It is the responsibility of the government to provide electricity, but this is a huge task that cannot be done by the government alone . " (REEEP)in south Asia.
"In many cases,
Traditional banking and financial services are not available to users, which is why we need microfinance institutions.
"The Bank of yariwat Grameen has approved a loan for the installation of 8,000 solar energy. home-
Uttar Pradesh is the most populous state in India and an important area for food cultivation.
The same is true in Africa.
Loans bring solar systems to families, schools and cottage industries in remote areasthe-grid.
The poor use the money they would have spent on kerosene to repay loans for solar equipment.
Hundreds of millions of people in India have little or no electricity supply.
However, in a country where gross domestic product (GDP) has reached or exceeded 9% to 2007/08 in three years, industrial demand for electricity has caused losses to capacity and infrastructure.
Out of 76 million households without electricity in India, 65 million use carbon
Kerosene was fired, according to REEP.
Kerosene is highly flammable and toxic.
In developing countries, thousands of people die every year from accidents involving coal stoves and kerosene lamps.
Developing countries now account for more than half of the world's greenhouse gas emissions, and that number will rise.
In India, greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase from 4 billion tons to 7 tons.
33 billion tons in 2031.
There are no figures for India's current greenhouse gas emissions.
Its per capita emissions are estimated at 1.
2 tons, is expected to rise to 2 tons.
According to recent government data, it will reach 1 ton by 2020. funded study.
India is adding about 10 gigawatts of electricity per year, and as capacity expansion fails to keep up with demand, there may be a power shortage of up to 21,000 MW in India, resulting in more power outages.
Solar energy will ease some of the pressure on the grid.
State-run in neighboring Bangladesh
According to the National Electricity Development Commission, power plants owned and owned by the private sector can generate 3,700 to 4,300 MW per day, compared with 5,500 MW for demand.
As only 40% of the country's population has access to electricity, microfinance institutions such as Grameen Bank have made significant efforts to expand the use of solar energy.
Since 2001, 350,000 solar home systems have been installed in Bangladesh, and 550,000 solar lanterns have been distributed, providing solar energy to about 4 million people. “Right now 2.
5 million people benefit from solar energy, and we plan to reach 10 million by the end of 2012, "said Dipal Chandra Barua, general manager of Grameen Shakti, a branch of Grameen Bank, the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize winner, the Bank encourages the use of alternative energy sources.
In India, renewable energy accounts for less than 3% of the country's total installed capacity, and wind power accounts for a large part.
Investors are increasingly interested in solar energy, a new solar energy plan in the country will be announced by December, about the same time as the Copenhagen global climate change summit.
The western state of Gujarat, which launched its own solar mission earlier this year, plans to build a large solar park.
But, even here, microfinance is helping light and stoves in rural households and small towns, where power outages are common.
REEEP is developing 10 renewable energy projects through microfinance with an estimated RS 234 billion ($49 billion)
It is necessary to provide solar lanterns for 65 million rural households.
This amount is less than half of the government's total subsidies to make kerosene affordable for the poor.
Some of these funds will come from microfinance institutions, which face much less risk.
Regular loans for solar appliances.
Together with the energy research institute TERI, REEEP took the lead in launching the "light the lives of one billion people" campaign, which aims to replace kerosene and paraffin lanterns with solar equipment.
The project, launched last year with partners including the Clinton Climate Initiative, has covered more than 100 villages so far.
Project Urja of Sewa (“energy”)
Funded by the United StatesS. -
Based on the partner of the Le Mason Foundation, India Solar Electric Light Company (SELCO)
Make lighting and cooking equipment temporarily.
"It's cheaper, healthier, and low maintenance costs," said Pinal Shah, who is in charge of the energy project at Sewa Bank, which has paid more than Rs 6 million ($124,000)
About 10% of its 300,000 members provide loans for solar equipment.
Other devices in SELCO include a midwife's headlamp, a solar lamp for farmers who nurture silk worms in the Indian silk industry, and a solar-powered sewing machine.
In the crowded Jamalpur community of Ahmedabad, the small corner shop of Salma Muhammad is illuminated by solar energy
She borrowed 33,000 rupees from Sewa Bank to buy the power battery.
"This store helps me raise my children," she said . ".
"The solar cells have improved our lives and we are very grateful.