Solar Lanterns – Technology Adoption Model for Indian Villages

The photovoltaic technology is one of the most promising ways to generate electricity in a decentralized manner at the point of use for providing electricity, especially for lighting and meeting small electricity needs in un‐electrified households and unmanned locations. In India lack of electricity infrastructure is one of the main hurdles in the development of rural India. In most of the rural India grid based power distribution is not possible due to high costs, kerosene is the only source of energy in some villages, so off grid solar power sources are necessary for providing electricity. In this study, drivers and barriers for the adoption of solar lanterns in rural India, economic analysis and a framework for solar lantern adaption is presented. The model involves four major players, technology manufacturers, NGOs and village leaders, lending institutions, central and local governments. In the proposed framework post offices in the villages are operating as sales/financing/payment/maintenance points