SELCO has pioneered the delivery of sustainable energy to the poor in India in a manner that creates assets and results in long term poverty alleviation. These sustainable energy driven solutions increase incomes, improves quality of life, and alleviates poverty. By aligning Decentralized Renewable Energy (DRE) with socioeconomic inclusion, SELCO has revolutionized poverty alleviation, income generation, and community well-being.
SELCO Foundation Vision
At its core, SELCO Foundation is driven by the belief that energy is more than just power—it's a tool for development. Their end-user-centric, demand-driven ecosystem ensures long-term, replicable solutions that are environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive.
Key highlights of SELCO’s approach include:
Enhancing income opportunities for underserved communities.
Promoting environmental stewardship.
Creating assets that contribute to poverty alleviation.
The SELCO Ecosystem
SELCO Foundation defines its ecosystem model through five critical pillars:
Innovation:
Create benchmarks and replicable processes that demonstrates sustainable energy as a critical enabler for development in a manner that is environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive
Finance
Understand financial viability and work with appropriate financing mechanisms for solution delivery Create context-specific and customised financial products which cater to varying user cash flows and scenarios
Skills and Capacity Building
Develop end to end models for human resource development that creates local change makers- leadership, workforce, innovators, entrepreneurs- who contribute to improving socio-economic development of underserved populations via sustainable energy
Backward and Forward Linkages
Recognise the context in which a solution is implemented and and design programs accordingly
Policy Advocacy
Develop an inclusive and end-user focussed policy environment which facilitates the adoption of a sustainable energy ecosystem approach across sectors
SELCO Foundation has long been a leader in leveraging DRE to uplift vulnerable populations. By addressing pressing challenges in agriculture, healthcare, and microbusiness sectors, SELCO ensures that renewable energy becomes a key enabler for income generation and community well-being. Their work is a testament to the role of energy in combating poverty while fostering environmental stewardship
Flagship Initiatives: Impact at Scale
Energy for Health : SELCO has brought sustainable energy to over 1,300 public health facilities across five Indian states: Karnataka, Odisha, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Manipur. This initiative has:
Benefitted over 7 million people with improved healthcare services.
Enhanced maternal care and reduced healthcare costs.
Contributed to environmental goals with 4,130 kWp of solar energy and a reduction of 39,110 metric tons of CO₂ emissions
Energy for Livelihoods : Through innovative DRE solutions, SELCO has empowered communities with:
Solar-powered cold storages, millet processing units, and efficient poultry coops.
Improved agricultural practices and support for micro-enterprises, leading to increased income opportunities.
Ecosystem Building
SELCO’s three-stage program structure ensures solutions are innovative, scalable, and sustainable:
Stage 1: Partnering with researchers and end-user experts to benchmark solutions.
Stage 2: Building regional ecosystems through collaborations with government bodies, NGOs, and financing institutions.
Stage 3: Scaling solutions by institutionalizing processes with strategic stakeholders.
Driving Climate Action with SELCAP
SELCO’s Sustainable Energy-led Climate Action Program (SELCAP) integrates DRE into climate adaptation strategies, addressing unique community challenges.
By adopting bottom-up approaches, SELCO supports India's journey toward Net Zero targets while empowering local communities.
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Disclaimer
This article is intended for reference purposes only and aims to provide basic information about SELCO Foundation, its initiatives, and its impact. The content is designed to assist development sector professionals, MSW/BSW students, and NGO leaders in gaining insights into SELCO's work.
The information presented here is based on publicly available resources and is not an official representation or endorsement by SELCO Foundation. Readers are encouraged to visit the official SELCO Foundation website or contact them directly for detailed and up-to-date information.
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