Young Innovators collaborate with SELCO to bring Solar Energy to Bengaluru street vendors
Four young innovators have come up with an innovative design that would bring solar powered lighting to street vendors in Bengaluru.
SELCO foundation organized a “Design and Build” contest and invited entries from across the country for a solar powered retail kiosk that would also act as a distribution centre for Solar-powered lighting that would help increase accessibility to street vendors at night.
A team comprising of Sampath Reddy, AdityaVenkataraman, AkshayHarikumar and Nilesh Roy won the competition and will get to see their vision realized when the structure they designed gets constructed in August 2017.
Each of the team members brought a unique quality that contributed to the winning entry.
Sampath, the founder of Pop-up Housing, brought to the table his experience in constructing portable and durable structures using everyday, eco-friendly materials. There were two architects in the team- Aditya, Partner at Elemental Design Studio, and Nilesh Roy, final year student at NIT Trichy. Together, they ensured the ergonomics and aesthetics appeal of the kiosk was maximized. AkshayHarikumar, who runs Elephant Energy, a Solar PV Integrator, lent his expertise in the design of the solar array to power a fridge and LED battery packs.
The winning design uses Slotted Angles for the frame, while the walls are clad with Bamboo Plywood, making the structure lightweight and eco-friendly. The entire structure can be held in place using just bolts without needing any welding, making it modular, portable and easy to construct. The pilot would be built at the Clarence School bus stop in Richards Town, Bangalore
Six Solar panels sit atop the kiosk, powering a 350-Litre refrigerator, 20-Watt lighting systems, and a fan. The kiosk relies on four batteries for night-time power, and is entirely off-grid.
The primary utility of the kiosk is to provide energy to charge 60 battery packs for LED lights during the day. These would be then distributed to street vendors on a subscription model. With access to lighting, street vendors would be able to sell their wares longer into the night and attract more customers. LED lighting, unlike kerosene lamps that are currently used, also do not present a health hazard to those operating them. At a rental fee of Rs. 10 per light, the cost of power from the kiosks would also be far lower than kerosene lamps.
As the kiosks get replicated, they could evolve as shelter for migrant or low-income populations, or help in disaster relief situations.With this project, SELCO continues its pioneering work in increasing access to energy for marginalized communities through renewables, changing lives of the weakest sections in India.
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