Case Study: Prayas Saakh Avam Bachat Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti brings clean energy and financing to rural homes with TERI

Prayas Saakh Avam Bachat Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti brings clean energy to 60 rural households with TERI

The customer, Prayas Saakh Avam Bachat Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti, a local micro-finance institution (MFI) in Bihar, India, faced the challenge of promoting the adoption of clean energy products among rural, low-income households who were hesitant due to high upfront costs and concerns over durability. Partnering with vendor TERI - The Energy and Resources Institute, they worked to provide consumer finance for the Integrated Domestic Energy System (IDES), a solar-powered product for clean lighting and cooking.

TERI implemented a solution that provided the IDES technology and established the Prayas Samiti Energy Enterprise for its installation and maintenance. Crucially, TERI facilitated a consumer finance arrangement where buyers only paid the principal on their loans, with the project fund covering the interest. This partnership led to 60 installations, with 35 families using a loan from the MFI. The results included extended business hours for shop owners, reduced fuel wood consumption, and healthier living conditions due to less smoke, as demonstrated by the first adopter, Sheela Devi.

Prayas Saakh Avam Bachat Swavlambi Sahkari Samiti