Indian group plans to light up 1.6b lives with solar lanterns

It will provide solar lanterns to rural poor, starting with those in India
P. Jayaram, Straits Times 14 Jul 08;

NEW DELHI - AN INDIAN energy research institute has launched a plan to bring light to 1.6 billion rural people worldwide with low-cost solar lanterns.

The plan, which would help mitigate carbon emissions and the threat of climate change, will cover - besides India and Africa - less developed South-east Asian countries such as Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar, said Dr R.K. Pachauri, chairman of The Energy Research and Resources Institute (Teri).

'Rural Indonesia will also be covered under the plan, but we want to implement it first in India,' said Dr Pachauri, who is also head of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which shared the Nobel Peace Prize with ex-US vice-president and leading environmental activist Al Gore.

Of the 1.6 billion people in the world without access to electricity, 25 per cent, or 400 million in more than 76 million households, are in India, according to figures released by Teri.

Of these 76 million households, 65 million use kerosene for lighting purposes, consuming an average of 3 litres a month, or 2.4 billion litres per year, and emitting an estimated 5.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide, the organisation said.

The solar lanterns are similar in shape to traditional kerosene lanterns used in Indian villages, and cost 3,600 rupees (S$113) each.

The lanterns consist of a solar-charged battery, compact fluorescent light bulb and light-emitting diode bulb for evening and overnight lighting, respectively.

Dr Pachauri said that because many rural people would find the price of these lanterns beyond their reach, they could instead rent them at a cost of 2 rupees to 3 rupees a day - the same amount that a village household spends on kerosene.

Teri has already lit up non-electrified villages in seven states across India with these lanterns.

'To provide solar lanterns to the 65 million rural households now dependent on kerosene for lighting, an outlay of between 208 billion rupees and 234 billion rupees would be required, which is half the total government subsidised kerosene consumed in India annually,' he told a press conference.

'Thus, with this amount, we can provide a sustainable means to provide clean lighting to all those people who lack it, instead of keeping them dependent on a subsidy.'

A recent study noted that a third of the subsidised kerosene, which the government regularly spares from fuel price increases, is being diverted to the black market, or has been adulterated.

'In addition, the solar lanterns will mitigate the 5.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emitted from kerosene lanterns,' Dr Pachauri said.

The solar lanterns will also provide better illumination and eliminate the health problems associated with kerosene lanterns, such as pulmonary diseases and poor eyesight.

According to him, the campaign to 'Light One Billion Lives' would require a total of 200 million solar lanterns, and this can only be accomplished with local government and international support.

Dr Pachauri said during a recent visit to the United States that the mayors of New York and Chicago have promised to support the lighting of some villages.

pjay@sph.com.sg