Smart Villages

Hacking energy: low-tech “jugaad” energy innovation gives high-tech a run for its money

Energy Entrepreneurs /

Interview with Jaideep Prabhu Jawaharal Nehru Professor of Business and Enterprise at the Judge Business School at Cambridge University Location: United Kingdom; India “There is no shortage of ingenuity”. Jaideep Prabhu is the Jawaharal Nehru Professor of Business and Enterprise at the Judge Business School at Cambridge University, and he directs the university’s Centre for …

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Energy and agriculture in Smart Villages in India

Workshops /

From 21-23 September 2016, Smart Villages and ICRISAT held a workshop on energy and agriculture in Patancheru, Telangana, India. The workshop brought together experts from the domains of research, entrepreneurship, gender, ICT, business, finance, policymaking, and non-profit work to discuss the linkages between energy, agriculture and climate change, particularly as they pertain to rural villages in India …

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Water, energy, and food nexus workshop: Lessons from West Africa

Workshops /

Smart Villages Initiative and Energy4Impact (formerly known as GVEP) are pleased to announce a workshop focusing on the ‘Water, energy, and food nexus: Lessons from West Africa’. The workshop will be a two-day event in Saly, Senegal on the 24th and 25th of August. Over a period of three years, the Smart Villages Initiative is conducting workshops and follow-up engagement …

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In Nigeria, biogas offers agricultural communities energy

Energy Entrepreneurs /

Interview with Fatima Oyiza Ademoh Project Manager, Ajima Farms and General Enterprises Nigeria Ltd Location: Nigeria “Biogas can power homes and communities”. “I have always wanted to reduce the numbers of people living in energy poverty”, says Fatima Ademoh. Her first off-grid project, connecting the village of Rije, Nigeria to a biogas generator, will be …

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WR25: The water, energy, and food nexus: Lessons from West Africa

Workshop Reports /

Agricultural activities account for 70% of global water usage. Food production and the associated supply chain account for about 30% of total global energy consumed. While there is an awareness of the water, energy, and food (WEF) nexus, there is a lack of effective and integrated initiatives to address it. As described by the United Nations: “The global community is well aware …

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WR24: West Africa Dialogue for Media Professionals

Workshop Reports /

As an integral part of that activity, the Smart Villages Initiative aims to raise public awareness of rural energy access issues, sustainable energy technologies, and entrepreneurial approaches to energy in the developing world. To help meet this goal, we seek to promote objective, informed, and balanced coverage of the issues, challenges, and opportunities through media dialogue events for both regional and international …

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Trust, training essential for off-grid energy start ups

Energy Entrepreneurs /

Interview with Salinee Hurley Tavaranan, CEO & Founder, SunSawang Formerly Director at Border Green Energy Team “We don’t do solar for free anymore. We started charging for it and now it’s working”. Salinee Tavaranan is trained as a solar engineer. But she’s learned the policy and finance side of the business as well, after more than 10 …

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Smart Villages Podcast 2 – The future of energy storage for smart villages – Interview with Dr Vasant Kumar

Podcast /

In Smart Villages Podcast 2, host Sir Brian Heap interviews Dr Vasant Kumar, Head of Materials Chemistry Group in the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy at the University of Cambridge. Dr Kumar explains that his group research interests relate to materials innovation for “Energy, Environment and Sustainability”, working to help develop technologies for new …

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[:en]Women & energy entrepreneurship: Business models for off-grid energy and social impact, Part II[:]

Webinars /

[:en] Women are central to successful business models for off-grid energy in developing countries – whether they are founding micro enterprises, building small, medium, and large businesses, or are the consumers choosing the best energy sources for their household. In this webinar, you’ll hear from women working on the frontlines of energy entrepreneurship. They will …

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For Tanzania’s Chololo Ecovillage, a focus on education makes investment go further

Energy Entrepreneurs /
Mary Mpilimi says: “Now I don’t have to beg money for my husband for things like clothing, medicine and school fees."

Interview with Michael Farrelly Chololo Ecovillage Location: Tanzania “If 70 percent of your population is dependent on rain-fed agriculture, then climate change is a big issue”. With a masters degree in rural development, Michael Farrelly has brought a knowledge of participatory research methods to the Chololo Ecovillage. By offering villagers a wide range of climate-resilient techniques to …

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Smart Villages Podcast 1 – Cambridge graduates pursue smart villages projects – Interview with Dr Nalin Patel

Podcast /

In Smart Villages Podcast 1, host Sir Brian Heap interviews Dr Nalin Patel, Programme Manager of the Winton Porgramme for the Physics of Sustainabililty at the world famous Cavendish Laboratory at the University of Cambridge. Dr Patel tells about the experimental research they are currently conducting on batteries and superconductors. He also explains the links …

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BR18: Findings from the Bangalore Forward Look Workshop on mini-grid technologies for India

Policy Briefs /

The Indian Institute of Sciences (IISc) together with the Smart Villages Initiative held a workshop in July 2016 focused on mini-grid energy generation, storage, and transmission technologies in India and how they will be implemented. The workshop was held at the IISc campus in Bangalore and brought together academics, students, policymakers, business people, and NGO practitioners interested in sustainable energy and rural electrification.

Stirling engines – energy for off-grid villages?

Video /

Having already designed Stirling engines for aerospace, Dr Mike Dadd of the University of Oxford discusses the pros and cons of a biomass-powered Stirling engines for producing electricity in off-grid villages.

Why rural communities matter

Video /

Dr Shailaja Fennell of the Centre for Development Studies (University of Cambridge) discusses why understanding rural communities needs and aspirations are crucial for improving rural development.

Interview with Dr Scott Watkins

Video /

Center: Dr Scott Watkins Based in both Seoul, Korea and in Melbourne, Australia, watkins directs new business development with KISCO, a Korean chemicals and inks manufacturer. His role is to help develop new strategies and business areas. He continues to pursue further opportunities contributing to social enterprises and technology startups. Left: Julia Vitullo-Martin Julia Vitullo-Martin …

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What makes village “smart”?

Video /

1.3 people in the world still lack access to electricity, and at least 3 billion people are still cooking on dangerous and inefficient cookstoves that create dangerous conditions inside homes. We’re trying to understand how the lives of people in rural villages in developing countries can be improved… In this video, Smart Villages asked experts …

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Education and entrepreneurship: How solar energy impacts Tanzanian villages

Video /

How has solar energy changed the lives of people in rural Tanzania? In this video, you’ll hear from villagers themselves – including small business owners and students. You’ll also hear from Mobisol, one of several companies active in providing solar energy to rural villages. Video by: Steve Martin Saning’o, Terrat, Tanzania

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