Washington, D.C., USA. - India-based social enterprise SELCO Solar Light Pvt. Ltd. plans to hold talks with Winners and Finalists of the Global LEAP Outstanding Off-Grid Product Awards. SELCO will consider marketing and selling the low voltage off-grid appliances that the Global LEAP Awards identifies as being among the world’s best.
The Global LEAP Awards is an initiative of the Clean Energy Ministerial that supports self-sustaining commercial markets for clean energy access, products and services. The goal of the Awards is to identify the world’s highest quality, most energy-efficient low voltage DC LED room lighting appliances and flat panel color televisions.
Established in 1995, SELCO provides sustainable energy solutions and services to tens of thousands of India’s under-served households and businesses, with 38 service centers in the Indian states of Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar and Tamil Nadu. SELCO has impacted more than 160,000 families over the years.
“We will continue to intervene via sustainable energies thus improving the quality of life for many more in the coming years,” said SELCO’s founder and Chief Executive Harish Hande. “Energy efficient, high quality off-grid appliances will help us meet this goal and serve our stakeholders. We’re excited about the Global LEAP Awards.”
According to 2012 data from the International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook, more than 290 million Indians have no access to the electric grid. To meet their lighting needs, off-grid households often rely on kerosene, a fossil fuel with dangerous health, indoor air quality, and climate change consequences.
Solar home systems like those offered by SELCO offer clean, reliable light and electricity for productive use, communications technologies, and entertainment. Coupling these systems with high quality, energy-efficient appliances supports off-grid consumer demand, makes the products more affordable and accessible, and supports strong commercial markets for off-grid energy.
“Energy efficiency is a powerful energy access tool,” said the U.S. Department of Energy’s Caroline McGregor. “Efficient appliances give off-grid consumers greater utility from the limited power available to them. Efficient appliances also allow homes and businesses to meet their needs with less power and smaller energy systems, and these are of course more affordable.”
Global LEAP Awards Finalists will be identified from among the nominees based on the products’ wholesale price and energy performance, as well as a hands-on quality assessment of product samples. Finalists’ energy performance and quality will be tested according to internationally accepted laboratory test methods later this year and early next year. Winners will be named at the 5th Clean Energy Ministerial in Seoul, South Korea in May 2014.
“We’re very pleased to have SELCO’s support for the Global LEAP Awards,” said McGregor. “Their commitment to high quality and energy efficient appliances will help a great number of people throughout India, and will help build the global markets for high-performing off-grid appliances and home energy systems.”
Manufacturers of eligible products can find more information and nominate their products at www.GlobalLEAPawards.org.
The Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) is a high-level global forum to share best practices and promote policies and programs that encourage and facilitate the transition to a global clean energy economy. CEM initiatives are based on areas of common interest among participating governments and other stakeholders and help reduce emissions, improve energy security, provide energy access, and sustain economic growth. The Global Lighting and Energy Access Partnership (Global LEAP) is an initiative of the CEM. The Global LEAP Awards is funded by the United States Department of Energy and the ClimateWorks Foundation. For more information on Global LEAP visit www.cleanenergyministerial.org/GlobalLEAP
SELCO Solar Light Pvt. Ltd., a social enterprise, was established in 1995 to provide sustainable energy services to underserved households and businesses. Over the last 18 years, SELCO has successfully served over 160,000 customers, improving their lives and livelihoods, through its 38 energy service centers across India. SELCO has developed a unique business model which brings the benefits of clean energy at an affordable price to rural India through financial and technological innovation. For more information, visit www.selco-india.com
Contacts
Matt Jordan (Washington, DC): Phone +1.202.662.7229
globalleap@clasponline.org
Vikshut Mundkur (Bangalore, India): Phone +91 80 - 26654509/10
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