Gyanesh Pandey, an electrical engineer from Bihar, is convinced of the catalysing role of energy in economic development.
Pandey has set up Husk Power Systems (HPS), which generates power from rice husk, an abundantly available agricultural waste. The electricity so generated is sold on a pay-as-you-go basis to local communities.
Pandey is just one of the many entrepreneurs in Bihar that Shell Foundation has taken under its wing. Shell Foundation is an independent charitable foundation that was established in 2000, and is funded by Royal Dutch Shell Plc.
India happens to be the single largest country recipient of Shell Foundation's investment to date, with $20 million invested. The country plays host to some of the firm's most successful partnerships.
“The HPS biomass gasification plant in Bihar was just the beginning. Today, HPS operates over 80 power plants, electrifying nearly 300 villages and benefiting over 100,000 people. It is now scaling up rapidly with a goal of reaching over 2000 plants by 2014,'' Jeroen Blum, Deputy Director, Netherlands, Shell Foundation told Business Line recently.
Shell Foundation provides targeted capital to social enterprises and assists both with skills and finance. “The idea is to enable companies to go to scale by creating financially viable business models,”' said Anuradha Bhavnani, Regional Director, India, Shell Foundation.
Shell is also working with others in the energy sector in India. For instance, D.light Design produces and distributes low-cost portable solar lighting products designed for rural consumers while Selco markets solar home systems to rural consumers with no grid access.