Journey
Vision
To achieve social good under a commercial framework, delivered with highest levels of ethics, integrity and professionalism.
Mission
To focus on and act as a catalyst in commercializing on-the-ground viable renewable energy solutions for rural communities and enterprises.
On The Ground For 16 Years
2008-2014: Foundation and Initial Projects
- A small team came together with a mission which led to the incorporation of Gram Oorja in 2008. Raised small initial capital from friends and family.
- Initial surveys conducted and solutions in biogas and small-scale solar explored between 2008 and 2011.
- 39 households in Darewadi electrified through Gram Oorja’s first micro-grid in 2012 in collaboration with Bosch Solar Energy AG. Darewadi became a landmark energy access project, with visitors from over 30 countries.
- Installed a solar water pump for irrigation in Pardhipada, Jawhar.
2015-2017: Expansion
- Around 35,000 lives positively impacted through the installation of over 100 pumps and 55 micro-grids in Maharashtra (Palghar, Melghat and Nandurbar), Jharkhand (Gumla and Khunti) and Karnataka (Dandeli forest).
- Over 50 schools and hostels for tribal children in Palghar, MH and Balaghat, MP, and hostels for differently abled children in Palghar and Nashik benefitted from solar energy projects and biogas-based projects.
- Primary Health Centres (PHCs) in Nandurbar benefitted through reliable electricity for storage of vaccines and lighting from solar energy projects.
- Third-party impact assessments initiated across more than 50 villages. Read the report here.
2018-2021: Broadening Horizons
- Continued to scale micro-grid and pumping projects from 2018 to 2021. Expanded to new geographies in India and Africa.
- Detailed energy assessment in refugee camps in Ethiopia conducted. Proposed renewable energy solutions to improve the camps’ access to energy.
- Installed solar energy projects for electrification of more Public Health Centres in Jharkhand and Assam and schools and hostels in Maharashtra.
- A rural business in Maharashtra is saving on their electricity expenses through a 500 kWp grid-tied solar system installed by Gram Oorja
2022-2024: Scale Up
- Over 1,700 small landholding farmers and their families were able to grow a second and third crop on previously unirrigated farmland through 400 group irrigation projects. These projects helped to significantly boost incomes, increase food security and reduce seasonal migration.
- Over 50 solar micro-grids electrified around 2,000 off-grid households in Jharkhand taking the total number of micro-grid projects in Jharkhand to 94.
- 465 previously unelectrified households in two villages of Lesotho, Africa were electrified in collaboration with international partners.