Affordable Pay-As-You-Go Solar Power for India's Energy-Poor Homes

Abstract

India lacks access to energy more than any other country in the world. Energy-poor households, mostly located in rural areas, are forced to use hazardous and expensive sources of energy that pollute the environment. A new technology delivers off-grid and decentralized solar power to homes where people can pay for electricity in small increments using the mobile phone’s short messaging service. The Asian Development Bank’s $2 million equity investment into Simpa Networks is expected to provide over 63,000 rural households with access to electricity by 2015 while lessening carbon dioxide emission, health issues, expenses, and risks from using hazardous energy sources.