The Solar Microgrids Project, funded by HCL Foundation under its flagship rural development initiative Project Samuday, aimed at transforming rural energy access in Hardoi District, Uttar Pradesh. With a vision for holistic development across key sectors, the project addressed the acute need for reliable, affordable, and sustainable electricity in remote villages, where grid connectivity is often limited or
absent.
Central to this intervention was the design and deployment of solar photovoltaic (SPV) mini and microgrid systems, distributed networks, and household connections, moving communities away from reliance on fossil fuels and polluting energy sources. By shifting the rural energy landscape toward renewables, the project directly supported a transition to a low-carbon development pathway – reducing greenhouse gas emissions, cutting local pollution, and enhancing community resilience to climate change.
Our Role
As Project Management Consultant (PMC) for the project, we provided end-to-end technical and management expertise to ensure the successful design, implementation, and sustainable operation of low-carbon solar solutions. Key responsibilities included:
- Comprehensive assessment of energy needs, load profiles, and socioeconomic context in selected villages, followed by designing technically robust, context-appropriate solar microgrid systems.
- Preparation of Detailed Project Reports with technical specifications, cost estimates, and implementation frameworks to guide the roll-out of SPV systems.
- Development of bid documents, vendor selection, and contract management to ensure quality and cost-effectiveness.
- Overseeing all aspects of grid installation, commissioning, and stabilisation – ensuring timely delivery, adherence
to technical standards, and operational sustainability of the systems. - Ensuring that the choice of technologies, grid designs, and operational protocols advanced the project’s low-carbon objectives – optimising renewable penetration, maximising fossil fuel substitution, and embedding long-term energy resilience in rural communities.
- Facilitating training, awareness, and participation at the village level to ensure local ownership and effective maintenance of the new energy infrastructure.
By integrating SPV microgrids into rural power supply, the project not only electrified underserved communities but also set a replicable model for low-carbon rural electrification, directly contributing to climate mitigation, improved livelihoods, and sustainable rural development in India.
