Lighting Up the Dark

When engineer Priya Das visited rural Odisha in India, she was struck by how entire villages went dark after sunset. Children studied by kerosene lamps; clinics powered generators that ran only a few hours a day.

Priya saw an opportunity — not just to bring light, but to bring equality. She launched SolNet, a company building community solar microgrids for underserved regions.

A Model for Inclusion

Each SolNet microgrid powers homes, schools, and small businesses. The model is simple yet powerful: communities pay a small monthly fee, creating a self-sustaining energy ecosystem.

By 2024, SolNet had deployed over 50 microgrids, serving 10,000 residents.

Empowering Communities

Beyond light, SolNet brought new possibilities — refrigeration for vaccines, longer working hours, safer streets. “Electricity changes everything,” Priya says. “It’s not a luxury. It’s dignity.”

The Future is Decentralized

SolNet’s mission now extends to Southeast Asia and East Africa, showing how decentralized solar power can leapfrog traditional infrastructure.

“Every watt we generate,” Priya says, “is a vote for a fairer world.”