We currently have one project in operation in India: Solar Technology.

India, Solar – Orb

Project Location: Across India. Focussing on the southern states of Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Kerala to begin with.

Project Type: Gold Standard VER Project

Emissions Reductions: 5,000 tonnes per year in 2007 and 2008 increasing in subsequent years as sales increase.

Baseline (situation without project): Coal-intensive regional power grid

Project Status: Implementation

Validation: Currently contracting DOE – (expected validation visit late May)

Project Start: January 2007

Summary: Currently domestic households use kerosene fuel and grid electricity for lighting. Commonly water is also heated with grid electricity. The grid in India is powered largely by coal and so has a high CO2 emission factor.  Kerosene also has a high emissions factors.  These fuels form the baseline for the project, which focuses on emission reductions arising from solar hot water and solar electric installations.

The project will develop a network of franchisees throughout India for the sale, installation, and service of solar water heaters, solar electricity units, and energy efficiency appliances.

The project raises awareness of renewable energy as a practical reality for home and small business power generation and reduces dependency on the unreliable grid supply.  It builds local business and professional skills in the community and creates new jobs whilst encouraging the widespread dissemination of low carbon technologies.