Technical Seminar Ashden Awards London Noble Energy Solar Technologies Ltd.

My personal mission and NEST’s mission is to help make a kerosene-free world by promoting affordable and sustainable energy lighting solutions to the most needy people in the world. We shall make electricity so affordable that only the rich will burn candles - Edison

B BC coverage of 6th Aug 2001, which showed the pictures of 28 charred to death in chains and that killer kerosene lantern simultaneously T he tiny news item in Deccan Chronicle of 5th Jan 2005, which reported the death of two twin infants – LUV & KUSH – after a burning candle fell on their bed?.... Hazardous nature of kerosene Solar energy comes as an immediate and urgent solution to this burning issue of the world Address the need not greed –S–Started very small in 1998 –I–It was a lone enterprise with focused approach to provide affordable lighting solution to the REALLY NEEDY people. –2–20 th EU solar PV conference… I think, we are Still quite lonely in this endeavor, as every company is busy addressing the top of the pyramid We believe that we can “ serve the poor profitably ” using solar PV technology Picture Source The Background

Poverty Reduction through Solar For one unit of light emitted, the poor pay higher price than the rich A kerosene lamp gives 4 lumens of light whereas a 60watt incandescent bulb gives 900 lumens of light Poverty reduction must and should be achieved with care and attention We should not harm their SELF- ESTEEM! Poverty reduction in stages - slow and steady. Therefore, the key is Starting Small – for small is big; small has the scope to become big. Importantly, it gives them the OPPORTUNITY to buy Being aware, is progress. Solar mini lamps bring that kind of huge AWARENESS w/o being burden to anyone There’s so much darkness in the world that The Sun God cannot appear in those dark Households except in the form of a Solar mini lamp It’s the poor who NEED and APPRECIATES the solar Technology more than the rich! The rich finds it COSTLY and COMPULSION to use it!! Many reasons…

The solar lamps are mass promotable for more than one reason: It’s small, lightweight, portable Reaches the illiterate and needy Gives hope: Hope that ensures ‘light’ in their life Hope that increases their self-worth Poor convinced - Rich not. We found it easier to sell solar lamps in villages than in cities. Bcoz the rich enjoy the ‘cheap’ energy, they ask ‘why solar is costly’!... Therefore, Our focus –is on Poor. By serving the poor, we serve the rich I’ve some reasons to say this: What a multi million pounds solar power plant can do in terms of demonstration of solar technology, just a tiny solar lamp can do. And it happens in a widespread manner. I, even more, tend to simplify that it is as easy as distributing solar brochures! The solution I advocate in the form of solar mini lamp is coming as a simple solution but not simplistic! Simple does not mean easy. Simple often is very difficult. So, my solution, though looks simple, is in reality a task of enormous work. And, I’m aware of this vast task.

About 96 billion liters of kerosene is being burnt annually CO2 emission of 260 million tons every year. Slow poison Killer Fuel (2.5 million, 35,000 children) Why a Kerosene-free world?

What did we do ? We designed Aishwarya – 3W CFL, 6V4Ah bat and 3Wp solar panel. And, we named it as Aishwarya as a symbol of ‘fortune’ and the blend of performance and beauty. The poor in India spend 1400 rupees for months of kerosene – we give them flexi payable options We adopt all innovative market development methods. Otherwise, the villagers would not see light in another 100 years Aishwarya - three years of conceptualization Which is environmentally sound And in line with any other FMCG product We created vibrant market in the villages. We created dealer networks and a retail distribution channels similar to any comml operation. And, we demonstrated that “Sustainable energy can be a sustainable business” model also. Becoz we all know that “Technology should also make good business – as free money kills spirit to stand on own feet” Reaching the un-reached : Padmaram Thanda (hamlet) Mahbubnagar District, AP, India Unelectrified village

Also… Created micro enterprise network in rural and semi-urban settings. We approached self-help groups and existing para-business dealers- the dealers who are willing to run solar business along with their established business (Newspaper vendors, Telephone booths etc) Brand equity in rural areas, a unique achievement We are able to sell above 60,000 solar lamps since 2001 Of which 75% of them in households in far-flung areas, untouched by electricity Institutions, NGOs & Foundations are our excellent associates. We blend with such philanthropic organizations to accelerate the awareness of solar technology. (Baan/Katragadda!) AP’s Self-Help Groups Katragadda Foundation

Most intriguing aspects of our achievement Reaching areas untouched by governmental development programs, which were constantly neglected due to socio- political reasons Going into areas that have active insurgency and extremism People eat bug-less food with their little lamps Children, getting to use clean & safe lighting and, are studying Earning villagers – people who do sewing, prepare ‘bidis’, collect forest by-products - are able to enhance their incomes due to extra hrs available in the evenings One village celebrated the birth of a girl into a life with light – first child in that solar village to be born in light (the lamp helped in the delivery too) That’s why we believe that the solar lamp is more than just a lighting product, but a means of improving their lives… The children in slums… At least, their children will not be born in these slums… A new spirit injected into them – a new hope, brought in their LIFE with, a small new light And this is what we advocate … LIFE IS LIGHT; LIGHT IS LIFE

We’ve everything. We’ve the infinite & ultimate power house – the Sun - in the sky. We’ve abundant silicon on the earth crust. And we’ve the brilliant solar technology with us… Let’s move towards the kerosene-free world…

Thank you