Page 8 - A Case Study on The Value of Engaging Women in the Energy Provisioning Process
P. 8
The Value of Engaging Women in the Energy Provisioning Process
Rasulan’s story is a simple but powerful example of the positive and empowering outcome of women’s
inclusion in the energy access value chain. It demonstrates the need for the identification of roles,
simple as they may be, such that the ripple effect of women’s participation not only strengthens the
delivery of energy services, but also results in the development and empowerment of the community
as a whole.
3.2.2 Clean Energy Operatives (CEOs)
As TERI’s clean energy implementations progressed, people became more and more familiar with
the benefits of clean energy solutions and huge demands for independent solar home lighting
systems7 started being received. While the VLE solar lantern programme successfully addressed the
community’s basic lighting needs, the demand for standalone home lighting systems at the household
level became prominent; a need that was not met at the VLE’s level thus far.
For TERI, this came as an opportunity to not only serve an eager and growing end user base with
a solution upgrade but also as a platform to address cooking energy needs as this was the second
most prominent area of energy use in the house. For Shramik Bharti too, this was an opportune
opening to address health issues related to in-house air pollution. In its role as the primary energy
enterprise, this also allowed Shramik Bharti to introduce a diversified product for its SHG members
as well as to the larger community that served both lighting and cooking energy requirements.
The Integrated Domestic Energy
System8 (IDES) was thus developed as
a unified product solution to address
the twin objectives of clean lighting and
cooking. The IDES was constituted as an
integrated system that included an improved
cookstove, solar panels, two light points, and
a mobile charging facility. While the lighting
components were standardized according to
a household’s needs, the improved cookstove
was designed to provide up to four hours of
cooking time in a day, reducing indoor pollution by nearly 30 per cent, effecting higher fuel efficiency as
well as faster cooking times. TERI leveraged Shramik Bharti’s SHG network to incorporate the IDES
into the existing energy provisioning programme—sensitizing women’s groups about the combined
health and convenience benefits of the integrated system and the economics of transitioning from
conventional and fuel intensive cookstoves to more efficient and reliable alternatives.
7 A Solar Home Lighting System (SHLS) is an independent system installation that can be customized and
configured to serve specific requirements and consumption needs of households and small shops. The system
runs on its own solar panel and supports two to three light points and a mobile charging facility. End users
may incorporate a small solar fan or television into the system by modifying the panel size and battery backup.
The system is also well suited for isolated homes in rural belts that are too far away to receive a solar micro grid
connection.
8 A hybrid version of the SHLS, the Integrated Domestic Energy System (IDES) is an integrated system that
provides a clean cooking solution in addition to a solar panel, two light points and a mobile charging facility.
Developed to address the other major concern of indoor air pollution in rural households, the system addresses
basic lighting and cooking energy requirements and reduces emissions by 30 per cent. The forced draft improved
cookstove is improvised based on locally available materials and adapted to suit the region and usage behaviour and
is designed to provide four hours of cooking time in a day.
8
Rasulan’s story is a simple but powerful example of the positive and empowering outcome of women’s
inclusion in the energy access value chain. It demonstrates the need for the identification of roles,
simple as they may be, such that the ripple effect of women’s participation not only strengthens the
delivery of energy services, but also results in the development and empowerment of the community
as a whole.
3.2.2 Clean Energy Operatives (CEOs)
As TERI’s clean energy implementations progressed, people became more and more familiar with
the benefits of clean energy solutions and huge demands for independent solar home lighting
systems7 started being received. While the VLE solar lantern programme successfully addressed the
community’s basic lighting needs, the demand for standalone home lighting systems at the household
level became prominent; a need that was not met at the VLE’s level thus far.
For TERI, this came as an opportunity to not only serve an eager and growing end user base with
a solution upgrade but also as a platform to address cooking energy needs as this was the second
most prominent area of energy use in the house. For Shramik Bharti too, this was an opportune
opening to address health issues related to in-house air pollution. In its role as the primary energy
enterprise, this also allowed Shramik Bharti to introduce a diversified product for its SHG members
as well as to the larger community that served both lighting and cooking energy requirements.
The Integrated Domestic Energy
System8 (IDES) was thus developed as
a unified product solution to address
the twin objectives of clean lighting and
cooking. The IDES was constituted as an
integrated system that included an improved
cookstove, solar panels, two light points, and
a mobile charging facility. While the lighting
components were standardized according to
a household’s needs, the improved cookstove
was designed to provide up to four hours of
cooking time in a day, reducing indoor pollution by nearly 30 per cent, effecting higher fuel efficiency as
well as faster cooking times. TERI leveraged Shramik Bharti’s SHG network to incorporate the IDES
into the existing energy provisioning programme—sensitizing women’s groups about the combined
health and convenience benefits of the integrated system and the economics of transitioning from
conventional and fuel intensive cookstoves to more efficient and reliable alternatives.
7 A Solar Home Lighting System (SHLS) is an independent system installation that can be customized and
configured to serve specific requirements and consumption needs of households and small shops. The system
runs on its own solar panel and supports two to three light points and a mobile charging facility. End users
may incorporate a small solar fan or television into the system by modifying the panel size and battery backup.
The system is also well suited for isolated homes in rural belts that are too far away to receive a solar micro grid
connection.
8 A hybrid version of the SHLS, the Integrated Domestic Energy System (IDES) is an integrated system that
provides a clean cooking solution in addition to a solar panel, two light points and a mobile charging facility.
Developed to address the other major concern of indoor air pollution in rural households, the system addresses
basic lighting and cooking energy requirements and reduces emissions by 30 per cent. The forced draft improved
cookstove is improvised based on locally available materials and adapted to suit the region and usage behaviour and
is designed to provide four hours of cooking time in a day.
8
