Here are some of the most simple yet innovative climate solution that have been successfully implemented all over India. These innovations were discovered during The IYCN Climate Solutions Road Tour.

1. India Climate Solutions: Some of our favourites
Climate Solution 1: Muni Seva Ashram, Goraj, Gujurat
The school at Muni Seva Ashram in Goraj, Gujarat is a complete utopia of climate solutions. A 13kW
solar PV power plant, designed by Ghadia Solar, provides electricity for school buildings; a biomass
gasifier powers the irrigation pumps for the children’s organic farm and neighbouring farms; a solar
cooker feeds hundreds of students; distributed solar PV on individual dorm buildings feed lights and
fans; a biogas project provides cooking gas for on-site staff quarters; and rain water harvesting
replenishes the ground water. The school is for local village children from all over Gujarat and is a
place where they can learn the values of preserving the planet. This is a truly inspiring integrated
energy solution for off-grid locations. Every available renewable resource is harnessed and utilized.
Climate Solution 2: Biogas production, Modachinnapally, near Hyderabad
This is a solution we have come across again and again across India, utilising a wealth of different
organic waste feed-stocks in each location. One of the most exciting examples was bio-gas cooking in
the village Modachinnapally, on the outskirts of Hyderabad. With the rising costs of L.P.G and the
additional transportation costs, the villagers discovered the most pragmatic way of cooking, using
the bio-gas. All they needed is a resource they already possessed, the GOBAR. The mixture of gobar
and water is fed into an underground cemented tank where bacteria promotes catalytic breakdown
of molecules to release bio-gas which is supplied through a tube to the kitchen after which they can
control the flow of the gas using a conventional regulator. This is a flawless example of sustainable
development.
Climate Solution 3: Sustainable agriculture practices at M.C. Pally, near Hyderabad and C.
Jalalapuram, Anantpur
Reverting to traditional and organic methods of agriculture in the farming sector is a solution we
came across in numerous states. Agriculture is responsible for 28% of India’s emissions and is also
one of the most vulnerable sectors to climate change. In two villages, M.C. Pally and C. Jalalapuram,
numerous solutions are being implemented to improve productivity, water tables, soil fertility, and
crop resilience in the face of ever more unpredictable weather patterns.
These include decentralised biogas production, drip irrigation, mixed crop planting, seed saving in
seed banks, natural fertilisation and vermicomposting, water harvesting via check dams, ponds and
minimal pesticide use with the incorporation of natural pesticides. Both of these rural farming
communities are seeing a rise in their water tables, greater crop productivity, and therefore an
improvement in income. The village communities have received guidance from the MV Foundation
and RIDS respectively which have given support to these changes.
Climate Solution 4: Solar-integrated Reva electric cars, across the country
Highlighting both the opportunity and the gaps still to be bridged in India’s clean power
infrastructure, the Reva car is one of the most innovative, clean mobility solutions we have come
across. This new solar-integrated model, with a lithium ion battery, which we have driven 3500km
across India, gains 10% of its charge from solar panels on its roof and travels over 150km on a 6hr
charge using 12kWh of energy.

2. Reva estimates that not only are their cars 20% more carbon efficient than petrol or diesel powered
cars when powered off India’s largely fossil-fuel powered grid, but they hold the potential to become
increasingly carbon neutral as the grid power becomes based on wind, solar and other clean energy
sources. The cars themselves are also made from recycled ABS plastic, and can be recycled, along
with their batteries.
Climate Solution 5: CII Green Building Hyderabad – Kartik?
Plants that process waste, an air cooling chimney, grass roof, natural lighting, low energy recycled
building materials, architecture that supports natural cooling and ventilation, educational hub for
green architecture
Climate Solution 6: Environmental Education – Tribal Girls School, Gujarat
While Environmental Education has been made a mandatory subject by the Supreme Court in school
and university curriculums, in the interior of Dharampur, at Eco-Centre, they have taken it a step
further. Environmental Education lies at the heart of their educational system.
Students from tribal communities combine traditional thoughts and modern ideas to manage
natural resources in a sustainable manner. A high emphasis on practical education ensures that
students are more aware about the technological aspects of using solar energy. Consequently
students help villagers to install and manage solar cookers. Even in their hostels, all their energy
needs are met by solar energy.
Climate Solution 7: ICT, clean power and transmission: Smart solar microgrid, outskirts of
Hyderabad
Nestling on the outskirts of Hyderabad, an innovative partnership between property developer SA
Habitat, and Solar Company Valence Energy, is coming up, one which incorporates renewable
decentralised energy production, smart grids, home automation and electric cars.
18 of the 330 houses that make up this residential complex are equipped with a 4.2kW solar PV
system on their roof, which will provide 40% of the housing electricity needs. They come equipped
with solar water heaters too, and perhaps most futuristically are all fully automated or 'smart'.
This allows every home feature to be controlled remotely, including the lights, ventilation, gas and
water, and also enables remote shopping and entertainment. Although not necessarily an energy
saving feature as it stands, the potential for such technology therefore to minimise energy use
within a household and a community is great.
The automation systems being installed in each home are not yet fully complete, but they will
include remote sensing, monitoring and control devices, as well as smart meters, embedded into
each room. These will allow the homeowner to have continuous information available to them on
water, gas and electricity use, the sources of their electricity, their carbon emissions, and up to date
costs of each material in rupees per unit.
Climate Solution 8: Carbon positive Industrial Ecosystem, Ahmadabad
It’s no longer ‘food for fuel’, its ‘grass for gas’. Using waste grass clippings to produce fuel is just one
of a holistic suite of solutions being implemented at Claris Pharmaceuticals in Gujarat, India’s first
carbon positive corporation. Every element of this manufacturing plant, from the building design

3. through to each of its operations has set new benchmarks for climate best practice. Finally the grass
is greener on the other side.
Clean Decentralised Power
The power supply for this energy intensive business is 70% powered by on or near-site waste. Using
clippings from their lawns and castor oil cake and sawdust from neighbouring farms, this plant excels
in meeting its requirements with little to no ecological footprint. Cut grass, as an unlikely hero,
provides 92% of its energy value when processed in a biomass gasifier and as a result, gives the plant
40 days of power per year. Future plans include utilising algae fed on CO2 extracted from waste flue
gases, building a 2MW solar electric station to provide 30% of their electricity needs, and
implementing solar thermal for water heating. Claris Pharmaceuticals use no fossil fuels for their
thermal process heat, a huge achievement given the nature of their core operations – producing
pharmaceuticals.
Water saving
There are thirteen water recharging wells across the compound, which feed into an underground
aquifer from which the lawns and plants are fed. The plant utilises rainwater harvesting also, and re-
uses treated water.
Green Architecture and Operations
From the building orientation, which is carefully designed to create psychological harmony, to the
way it sits on the soil, which minimises its impact on the microcosm of organisms that exist in the
soil, this plant (which is still being completed) has incorporated features that will allow it to operate
in harmony with the natural environment. The employees too are taught how they are part of
climate solutions, and although they all work very hard, seem highly motivated and excited for the
cause. The motor systems used during manufacture also utilise state of the art energy conservation
technology, with variable speed drives ensuring they utilise only the energy they require. The whole
plant is based on the principles of Vastu Shashtra (water, air, fire, earth, wind).
Climate Solution 9: Waste recycling in Panaji, Goa
Improper Waste Management is a problem across India, with burning and burying releasing
greenhouse gases and numerous other atmospheric, ground and water pollutants as well as toxic
leachate into groundwater sources. Proper awareness on simple waste management skills such as
separation of waste at source, recycling, & composting are answers to this dilema. Clinton Vaz, a
Goan Environmentalist, has been working with local municipalities to select decentralized, and low
cost waste management techniques. Here in Goa, they have brought about an 85% reduction in
waste going into landfill.
How have they done this? Eighty-five composting units have been constructed in Panjim, the highest
number of composting stations in any city in India; they are recycling all of the dry waste that comes
into the city, which equates to about 20 trucks per week. They are also working with corporates to
take responsibility for their own waste, with Pepsi, Bisleri, Coke and Tetrapak already on board and
sponsoring a recycling centre for people to return this waste within the city. In the future, they hope
to get more companies involved. In addition, Clinton is conducting training programmes at schools
and community centres on how to separate waste, raising awareness about the importance and

4. mechanism by which this solution can be adopted. Excitingly, the courts have actually started asking
other municipalities to start following the example of Panaji.
Climate Solution 10: Reforestation of the Dharaavi slum wastelands, Mumbai
One of the many inspirational stories we had a chance to document en route was the transformation
of a waste dumping ground near Dharaavi, the largest slum in Asia, into a national park. This was
something that was imperceptible to me until we actually witnessed it ourselves. The Maharashtra
National Park is adorned with a large variety of medicinal plants with nature walk trails around the
park signifying the need for biodiversity. They are also efficiently using every drop of water in the
park by diverting it into a pond, where they also breed fish to spread the awareness and the
importance of water ecology. They are also working towards cleaning the most polluted river in
Mumbai, the Meeti river, which runs along the park. This park also aids botanists and zoologists to
research on the various indigenous species for the city of Mumbai. For instance we were enlightened
by a butterfly enthusiast with his tremendous research work on the park.
Climate Solution 11: Lighting: Visual Dimensions, low energy lighting solutions – Low energy
Printed Signage and Low Energy Low Maintenance Dream Panels
This fantastic set of lighting products for restaurants, events and night-time advertising has been
developed by Ravi Bahal, manager of the Indian owned CA based company, Visual Dimensions.
Amongst their array of low energy, low impact products, are light boxes and neon sign alternatives
which can operate with 80% less of the energy and a lifetime of more than 7 years.
If you want more details on any of these solutions, please contact: Can give my details?