Mahindra Rise has announced a Solar Challenge: Can you design a solar kit for homes that is,
- 50% less expensive than current solutions.
- Occupies 50% less space than current solutions.
- DIY - people can buy it off the shelf and set it up on their own (or with minimum help).
Then, you should consider participating in the competition. The prizes range from $30,000 USD to $140,000 USD (according to their site).
A detailed account of the competition and what is expected out of participants can be found in this document.
Surprisingly, they show a solar concentrator based system for the proposed solution - which I think is a great idea. Solar PV systems do have their own advantages and are the most commonly used solar system in the world, but in a HOT country like India, we should try and use the sun's heat to produce energy. Or, we can use both sun's heat and sun's light in a single solution.
Go ahead, put your thinking caps on, read all the guidelines mentioned on their site. Who knows, your idea could bring about a solar revolution in Indian homes! All the best :)
