OREANDA-NEWS. September 28, 2012. First Solar and Sir Ratan Tata Trust (SRTT), one of India’s oldest philanthropic organisation, have joined hands to develop a pilot project in Uttarakhand (under the trusts’ rural Himalayan initiative - Himmothan Pariyojana), using First Solar’s advanced, thin-film photovoltaic (PV) technology modules to help off-grid Indian villages receive a reliable supply of clean energy for essential needs like safe drinking water, besides irrigation. If successful, the pilot project has the potential to be replicated across hundreds of villages throughout India.

SRTT and its associate organisation, Himmotthan Society, have always focused on providing rural communities in Uttarakhand with affordable long-term solutions for livelihood enhancement. The aim of the pilot project is to develop integrated projects using technology, and in this case, select solar systems that are low on maintenance and simple to install, maintain and use by local communities. Ganesh Neelam, development manager, SRTT, welcomed the support and contribution of First Solar. “We thank First Solar for partnering with the installation of this system, which will help us take up such innovative programmes to meet our community development goals,” he said.

“We welcome the opportunity to join hands with SRTT and Himmotthan Society in promoting the pilot project on solar energy to provide safe drinking water, and in turn, improving the quality of life of rural households,” said Anant Naik, director - India, First Solar. This initiative will demonstrate First Solar’s thin-film PV technology, its applicability, performance, and more importantly, First Solar’s commitment towards sustainable development whilst supporting such activities.

First Solar will donate 100 modules to the project, which is being implemented by Himmothan Society under the aegis of the SRTT, to generate solar electricity for providing drinking water. Focused on water pumping, the pilot project would combine First Solar’s advanced, thin-film PV modules with water pumps to move water from spring sources into storage tanks, thereby securing the village’s water supply. This pilot would complement ongoing livelihood enhancement work by SRTT and field partners through community institutions. The pilot project will benefit 65 households, with a population of 530 individuals, in the villages of Chureddhar and Chham (Gunogi) in Uttarakhand.