Micro Solar Energy Systems: Product

Design Intervention Facilitating

Sustainable Development for Rural
North East India

Brajesh Dhiman, Mrinal Krishna Chaudhury, Sudip Kumar Deb

and Debkumar Chakrabarti

Abstract Energy Access is one of the prime concerns particularly for the devel-
opment of North Eastern India. Though this region is a hub of natural resources, yet
it is deprived of easy access to commercial energy including, energy for domestic
and other small scale applications. Complete Rural Electrication may not be
possible in this part of the country through a conventional grid due to its remote
geographical locations, dispersed population density and the high cost of extending
transmission lines. This creates an imbalance leading to the lack of basic amenities
and thereby economic backwardness for the north east region persists. In this
regard, decentralized energy solutions become the part of development with respect
to local self-reliance. In general, the aim of this paper is to demonstrate possible
benets of a product design intervention for Micro Solar Energy Systems and Micro
Enterprise, upscaling rural livelihood.

Keywords Micro solar energy system Product design
Sustainable develop-



ment Decentralized energy Rural north east India

B. Dhiman (&)
D. Chakrabarti

Department of Design, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati,
Guwahati, Assam, India
e-mail: brajesh.dhiman@iitg.ac.in
D. Chakrabarti
e-mail: dc@iitg.ac.in
M.K. Chaudhury
Assam Energy Development Agency, Guwahati, Assam, India
e-mail: mrinal7@gmail.com
S.K. Deb
Assam Engineering College, Guwahati, Assam, India
e-mail: sudipkumardeb@gmail.com

Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2017 117

A. Chakrabarti and D. Chakrabarti (eds.), Research into Design for Communities,
Volume 2, Smart Innovation, Systems and Technologies 66,
DOI 10.1007/978-981-10-3521-0_10
118 B. Dhiman et al.

1 Introduction

Power scenario is that in India alone about 237 million people dont have access to
electricity [1]. There are 19,706 un-electried villages, in which 4169 un-electried
villages alone are in the north-eastern part of India [2]. This comprises about 21%
of total un-electried villages of the country. The north-eastern region is among the
most energy oppressed part of the country due to limitations of technical difculties
and nancial tasking for grid extension that results in poor industrial base and high
un-employment rate [3]. Emergency arising due to natural calamities also draws
attention towards developing a portable and energy independent source as an
appropriate solution. With moderate socio-economic status and low per capita
electricity consumption of the region, solar micro-energy systems become
promising alternative towards energy reliance of the people of rural north east India
(Fig. 1).
Micro Solar Energy System comprises of products like Solar Home Systems
(SHS), Pico PV (Photovoltaic) and Solar Lanterns (SL) and is the most economical
entry point for solar power applications suitable for rural use. In addition to
Illumination, Pico PV provides Mobile and Lantern charging options with benets
like low-cost and off-grid functionality. Such small-scale energy devices provide a
good scope of opportunity for design customization, and can play a pivotal role in
building energy reliance with high dissemination rate. There are other renewable
energy systems like Solar Mini Grids, Wind, Micro-Hydro and Biomass, but
installation cost of such system is much higher and they have resource specic
limitations within the north eastern region of India.
Basic parts of a Solar Home System consist of photo voltaic module to charge a
battery bank and provides DC output for running luminaries, DC Fan, mobile
charging, LED TV etc. The charge controller is a vital part of the Solar Home

Fig. 1 Need for micro energy based design intervention (Source Author Compilation)
Micro Solar Energy Systems: Product Design Intervention 119

System which controls and regulates the energy to the battery bank. Pico PV is a
small scale portable alternative to Solar Home System which fullls basic energy
need. A solar lantern is a small scale lighting device retained in a housing made of
plastic or metal that encompasses a rechargeable battery and required electronics.
For SL the battery is charged using PV module or the PV module is sometimes
integrated into the solar lantern itself [4].
The most common solar photo voltaic applications executed in the south Asian
region includes solar home systems (SHS), solar lanterns (SL) and solar PV
mini-grids (SMG) [4]. Many studies have emphasized the impact of PV electri-
cation to improve the socio-economic status of the rural area [57] clean energy
supply, protecting indoor air quality and the contribution to greenhouse gasses
alleviation from the use of a kerosene lantern or wick lamp for lighting.
Studies have also revealed that how renewable energy technologies have con-
tributed towards enhancing rural livelihood [79]. A study conducted in
Bangladesh concluded that if Micro Solar Energy Systems are used according to
specication, it can improve the socio-economic status of rural people (Fig. 2).
In poor developing countries micro-solar energy systems are used for out-
spreading light to areas that could not be touched with grid electricity. Given the
scope of customization, Product Design intervention for such Micro Devices
becomes very valuable, considering its importance for base of the pyramid, in this
context the energy deprived rural community of the north-east.
The newness of the idea is in using the design based framework for participatory
development of the rural region and other similar pockets of the country. This paper
focuses on product design intervention to facilitate sustainable development that
utilizes local resources and considers the customized requirement of rural user,
leading to the democratization of design for rural productive use. Proposed Design
Intervention may integrate renewable energy with other development initiatives like
Local Skill Up-gradation, better Socio-Cultural acceptance, and the creation of new
opportunities for livelihood generation.
The paper goes in coherence with current Govt. of India initiatives like Make in
India, National Solar Mission of setting 100 GW of Solar Power by 2022 and
National Skill Development Mission launched in 2015. Such Symbiotic
Relationship between Product Design, Renewable Energy, and Society could
possibly give New Orientation and Value Addition to narrowly focused existing
energy programs of government missing out on to the valuable down to up
approach for design. The participatory approach for decentralized energy

Fig. 2 Benets of MES

electric lighting (Source [10])
120 B. Dhiman et al.

intervention holds good promise for rural development in context of the North-East
Region of India [11].

2 Resources for Rural Development

Local consideration can help poverty reduction by creating an avenue for entre-
preneurial opportunities. North-eastern part of India is quite rich in terms of local
resources like bamboo, which is widely available across the rural domain of the
region and across different parts of India. The country has second-largest bamboo
resource in the world of which two-third lies in north eastern region. It has good
employment potential and major workforces involved are the rural poor [12].
Development of novel applications of such locally abundant resource may full
economic, social and environmental objectives along with cultural and social
growth [13, 14].
Bamboo as material is renewable, widely available, low-cost and eco-friendly.
With the wide range of applications and high renewability, it occupies a signicant
position in twenty rst century [15]. It is an ideal engineering material as its
properties can be adjusted according to different requirements [16]. In south-east
Asia, Parts of Africa and South America it has been traditionally used for long. The
rural population of north-east India owns both supportive knowledge and skills to
use bamboo as material. Since bamboo has major contribution in sustaining rural
economy especially in the north-eastern states, this makes it an ideal choice to be
considered for a design based intervention of micro energy systems in a local
context with advantages like Eco-friendly, low cost, widely accessible and can
support relevant local skills. It offers a great opportunity for micro and small scale
enterprise development.

3 Social Construction of Design

Socially constructed design drives the development of a village in broader context.

It signies that design should not work in an isolation, but should rather address
local issues by harnessing local resources, contributing positively to its social
structure with ethical design. In order to perform as an ethical design, it should
create a balance between environmental, economic and social sustainability.
Social context becomes critical in the propagation of design to rural grass root
level as it combines commercial advantage with social and ecological prot. For
design intervention to be socially responsive, it must embrace a framework of
design that captures and delivers favorable social change.
This mutually cohesive methodology for design development can overcome
existing barriers like lack of involvement of local stakeholders, technical inade-
quacy, a limited market, misperception about renewable energy in rural people and
Micro Solar Energy Systems: Product Design Intervention 121

lack of work opportunities necessary for the dissemination of Solar PV Products

and hence may result in a better market, local employment generation, and better
social acceptance of design.

4 Design Based Rural Sustainable Development

Framework

Proposed Design Framework can be used as a medium for sustainable development

in the context of north-east India. This can integrate local development with pro-
motion of Renewable Energy. As of now Solar PV products are seen as Tangible
Devices which has to be brought from external agencies to cater to the energy needs.
In the present scenario it works in a very narrow buyer-seller context, resulting in
many existing disadvantages. Renewable Energy interventions have the capability to
integrate it with other development initiatives for people in rural societies. In this
context, there is a prominent need for product design development framework.
This can bring newness to the idea at a system design level for micro energy
devices like SHS, Pico PV, and Solar Lanterns. The idea of proposed framework is
to support design intervention by making use of local materials along with local
skills and resources resulting in local entrepreneurial opportunities and may
strengthen local manufacturing capability.
Regional material like bamboo can be used to for the design development of
Pico PV and Solar Lanterns. It will reduce/replace use of plastic as material and
promote use of locally grown eco-friendly material. As rural communities in
north-east India are traditionally skilled with bamboo so such design intervention
can provide aesthetic and sustainable solution. Also, it will support subsidiary
micro enterprises based on bamboo. In general, this may lead to upscaling of rural
livelihood with multiple advantages as represented in Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 Framework for rural sustainable development (Source Author Compilation)

122 B. Dhiman et al.

Fig. 4 Objective for design

intervention (Source Author
Compilation)

An integrated approach for designing micro energy system can provide

Democratic Solution for rural growth along with fullling basic energy require-
ments for homes as well as helps in creating small enterprise initiatives to upscale
rural livelihood. This can be executed with help of rural self help groups.
The objective of a proposed framework (Fig. 4) is that modern energy can act as
a catalyst for sustainable development. This enables the rural community to attain;
1. Access to clean energy addressing need for basic energy requirement and better
connectivity to the wider world.
2. Generating opportunities for local employment by earning a viable living
3. Reducing rural exodus to urban areas, by giving them the choice between
traditional route of migration to a city, or life in a developed Village.
4. Better Social acceptance of such products as they are perceived as part of
culture.
5. Upscaling rural livelihood by providing better option to achieve their devel-
opment potential.
Design based on rural sustainable development framework is vital to the eco-
nomic, social and environmental viability of the region. There is great value to be
gained, by integrating rural development initiatives that contribute to up-scaling
sustainable livelihoods through efforts at the local, regional and national level, as
appropriate. This Improves access to reliable and affordable energy, including
renewable sources of energy for sustainable rural development. The framework can
support rural stakeholders, especially women and local youths and can promote
gender equality to achieve equal opportunities in all aspects of rural development.

5 Scope of Framework: Design Intervention Attempt

Framework-based design Intervention for micro solar energy devices fulll the
basic home electricity requirement and have portable off-grid applications like
usage on Fishing boats or in elds. The resultant product can provide on-demand
electricity to charge mobile phones and enable small businesses to operate under
luminaire (Fig. 5). Also the same scope can be extended for other applications like
PV panel stand.
Micro Solar Energy Systems: Product Design Intervention 123

Fig. 5 Design intervention prospects (Source Author Compilation)

Design intervention can assist in lowering daily kerosene consumption leading

to safer and healthier life of a user also have socio-economic benets like an
extended study time for students, improved working hours for rural artisans,
craftsmen, street vendors, etc. and the creation of better opportunities for local
employment. Salient features of resultant design are Mobility, Ease of Usage, Basic
load support, a detachable PV Panel (Fig. 6) Overall product will be Locally
Resourced and Assembled.
The product can be easily assembled with the help of a local rural cluster
group. The design integrates simple sub-assembly to locally resourced bamboo
casing. This involves the use of techniques like bamboo molding for easy to

Fig. 6 Salient features (Source Author Compilation)

124 B. Dhiman et al.

Fig. 7 Use of simple bamboo casing (Source Author Compilation)

produce shapes (Fig. 7) Bamboo can be given available industrial treatment to

improve its longevity as material and to fulll the design criteria.
Such products can create local opportunities and can be sold by rural entre-
preneurs in coordination with NGOs or State Nodal Agencies or by Government
Subsidized Shops Surya Kendra selling solar energy based products also this may
promote use of locally grown eco-friendly material.

6 Need for Energy Innovation: Prospective Scope

Increasing the stake of renewable energy is on priority in countries around the

world, especially in developing countries. Clean, reliable energy would be a priority
as it would not only mitigate huge emissions of greenhouse gasses, but also help
millions of people with Social, Economic and Environmental benets. It can unlock
new economic opportunities, already growing. With falling prices, renewable
energy technologies are fast becoming affordable especially Solar PV.
Given the scale of energy poverty for a country like India, one should be exploring
potential avenues with renewable energy based design interventions. It could be one
of the most appropriate solutions for the Self-Reliance of villages in India, in par-
ticular, the north east region. Access to energy reinforced with renewable energy
based design interventions can address the range of existing issues for rural societies.
Considering its given benets there is critical need for energy innovation.

7 Conclusion

Design based on rural sustainable development framework brings many advantages

to promote social and economic benets like micro-enterprise opportunities,
Involvement of local stakeholders, use of local resources and design-led social
innovation. This can be used as poverty reduction strategy not only in domestic
Micro Solar Energy Systems: Product Design Intervention 125

scenario but also can be replicated by other developing countries with similar
socio-economic context. It can help existing government policies in creating better
social acceptance of solar PV products for the region. Design development should
consider the fabrication using locally available material and skills. This may sup-
plement lack of local manufacturing capability for north-east India and can also cut
onto existing supply-chain/logistics costs.
The proposed framework provides new scope for renewable energy intervention
at a system design level not seen as it is before. This may address energy poverty
for the region and also serves resultant design in the broader context of rural
development. The framework should initiate new knowledge for social construction
of product design that brings economic, ecological and social prot to all.

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