Background

Even today, in many parts of rural India, access to consistent and reliable energy remains to be a  daily challenge. While villages are technically connected to the grid, frequent power cuts, poor infrastructure and low voltage makes it difficult for underserved communities to depend on it. These issues don’t just affect homes either but also indirectly; sectors like education, small businesses and human health. 

While the country has certainly made significant strides, the benefits of progress very often don’t reach rural communities. According to a 2023 report published by NITI Aayog, nearly 23% of such households still face unreliable electricity supply. A few reasons for the same is lack of awareness, local training efforts and systems that actually reflect the needs of the people using them. 

For many, renewable energy is still either completely unfamiliar or too expensive and out of reach. The Energy Commons is thus a project that has been initiated to help bridge this gap. Not by offering a one-size-fits-all solution but by working with communities to better understand their energy needs and thereby co-create paths towards cleaner, more reliable power sources. Through a holistic range of elements, the project hopes to make renewable energy more understandable, accessible and something the common man can truly call their own.