Context

All but two households in Devikulam are connected to the grid for electricity. Electricity is provided free to some households in Dalit caste under a ‘one light free’ service scheme. Most other households pay electricity bills generally ranging from Rs 20-50 per month. Electricity is mostly used for lighting, fans and TVs. In the village, electricity is also used for grinders used for grinding rice flour. Three houses in the village also power fridges. 

All households in Devikulam use firewood and kerosene for cooking; approximately 3L of kerosene is required each month for cooking purposes. Although LPG is preferred for its faster cooking rate, there are only 7 houses that have LPG as an option.

Due to frequent power outage it would greatly benefit the community to have a back up power supply. There is an opportunity for renewable technologies to further replace mains power from the grid and diesel and petrol used for vehicles. Due to its geographical location, Devikulam would greatly benefit from solar power which offers a limitless supply of clean, safe, renewable energy for heat and power and it’s more affordable, more efficient, and more reliable than ever. Solar products generally require low levels of maintenance however; a few systems require periodic inspections and routine checks to keep them operating efficiently. Also, from time to time, components may need to be repaired or replaced. Some inspections and maintenance tasks can be managed by the user but others may require a trained technician. The development of solar powered technology in the region would have a profound impact on the cost spent on electricity, and would help to reduce the negative impacts made on the environment.

Improved cooking technology would also be beneficial for the community. Around 70% of India’s population currently cook on bio-mass fuelled stoves that are inefficient and very dangerous for health. Worldwide, 1.6 million people die every year because of respiratory problems caused by smoke inhalation. The development of a smokeless stove would have many benefits as it would reduced indoor air pollution and related health issues. There would also be additional environmental benefits in terms of conserving biomass and slowing down deforestation.

Additional Resources

INNOVATIONS REPORT extract - Energy Innovations
Local Solar Data
Local Wind Data