Solar power in Himalayan villages

Today’s spotlight on renewable energy in developing countries is on the use of solar power in remote Himalayan villages.

The Barefoot College has introduced solar technology to villages in the Himalayan mountains, where winter temperatures can fall to -40°c.

Villagers are provided with the equipment to generate solar electricity and then trained as ‘Barefoot Solar Engineers’ at the organisation’s base in Rajasthan. After the training, they return to their villages where they install the equipment and provide an ongoing maintenance and repair service.

The project has provided solar electricity to more than 15,000 people in Himalayan villages. Barefoot Solar Engineers have installed solar water heaters and lighting systems in homes and have also built ‘solar passive’ houses which collect heat during the day and maintain a temperature of 20°c at night.

With less reliance on burning wood and using diesel and kerosene as sources of power, the communities have been able to drastically reduce their carbon emissions and levels of atmospheric pollution.

Find out more about the Barefoot College project on the Ashden Awards website.