Summary
Enactus team of Universal Business School, Mumbai, India in collaboration with Enactus team of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany have developed a standalone rechargeable solar lamp
The Race for Climate Action is a Global competition organised by Enactus World to recognise and promote Enactus teams and their projects
Enactus team of Universal Business School, Mumbai, India (Enactus UBS) in collaboration with Enactus team of Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Karlsruhe, Germany (Enactus KIT) have developed a standalone rechargeable solar lamp (with integrated solar panels) that aims to provide renewable energy solution to low-income households of underprivileged communities who do not have access to grid electricity. Named Project SonaLight, the initiative was recently featured in the prestigious Enactus Race for Climate Action Top 12 projects of 2022.
The Race for Climate Action is a Global competition organised by Enactus World to recognise and promote Enactus teams and their projects which tackle the climate crisis and work best towards the advancement to SDG 13. This competition is conducted in three rounds and culminates in top 5 projects (selected on the basis of performance, impact & collaboration) securing a prize pool of US $35,000 along with industry mentorship. In this edition of the Race for Climate Action, 72 teams from 16 countries submitted 91 projects.
About Project SonaLight:
Around 2.4% of the Indian households (most concentrated in the rural regions) have inadequate access to electricity, thereby forcing them to use harmful alternatives like kerosene lamps, firewood, etc. Project SonaLight aims to solve this problem through the provision of portable, rechargeable, and affordable lamps which are powered by solar energy.
Dr Asha Bhatia, Director- Research and Faculty In charge of ENACTUS at Universal Business School shares, “This is a uniquely designed product to provide an effective and affordable lighting solution to rural communities of India which still do not have adequate access to electricity. The current product was developed by Enactus UBS’s partner, Enactus KIT. However, to further enhance the feasibility, affordability, and utility of the product, Enactus UBS is redesigning the lamp.”
Thus to better suit the prospective target regions in Maharashtra and facilitate the expansion of SonaLight, Enactus UBS has engaged in the product design process to produce a more efficacious solar-rechargeable lamp, guided by the insights of a rigorous customer and market analysis.
These standalone solar lamps will be sold to the target consumer group through a simple rent-to-buy system by local entrepreneurs who will act as SonaLight’s representative and will also engage in any maintenance/ repair works.
A pilot run of Project SonaLight is currently being organised in Lumding, Assam. The project further aims to expand to a new target region in rural regions of the Pune district of Maharashtra.
“Enactus UBS has an extensive responsibility for the overall management and development of Project SonaLight. We are looking after the on-ground execution and operations, marketing and sales, market research, business model development, relationship management, and PAN India expansion of the project,” said Nitin Jangir- Project Head, Sonalight
Last updated on 30 Aug 2022
