SELCO INDIA (the Solar Electric Light Company) is a solar energy services company that sells, installs and services solar lighting systems to the underserved in rural India. SELCO is headquartered in Bangalore, India and has 25 solar service centers offices in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala. With a staff of more than 150, SELCO has installed more than 45,000 solar lighting systems. SELCO has also partnered with more than 12 local financial institutions.
SELCO’s primary mission is to uplift the quality of life among the underserved and also create enabling conditions for income generating activities. Solar lighting has led to better education, smokeless environment and longer working hours; thus uplifting the quality of life of the beneficiaries.
SELCO has ensured that its clients can get door-step service and door-step financing: two key components for the successful dissemination of modern energy services in the underserved areas.
Innovation
SELCO INDIA, provides infrastructure solutions to underserved households and businesses in India and rest of the developing world. Through its 25 centers in India, SELCO has brought reliable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable electricity to 35,000 homes and businesses since 1995. From solar lighting and electricity, to clean water and wireless communications, SELCO aims to empower its customers by providing complete packages of product, service and consumer financing, all under one roof.
There are over two billion people who currently lack reliable access to electricity. Billions more lack access to clean water, telecommunications and productivity enhancing technologies. At the same time tremendous changes in the photovoltaics, telecommunications, and water provision technologies have made provision of these services economically possible in a distributed fashion — one household and business at a time.
The socio-economics of the target group prevalent in its area of operations motivated SELCO to create a local service network and partner with local financing institutions to create many innovative financing models. SELCO brings together life-changing technologies with the service and financing needed to make them accessible to developing country markets. Wireless technologies like solar PV demand little physical infrastructure, but a human infrastructure is required.
Skilled rural men and women are needed to introduce, supply, service, and finance solar electricity systems. SELCO has created that crucial human infrastructure, connecting reliable, affordable, and convenient solar PV solutions to those people who most need it. SELCO does this by using small-scale modular wireless technologies like solar photovoltaics (PV). Its systems offer advanced, inexpensive lighting, electricity, water pumping, water heating, communications, computing, and entertainment. These products can be purchased for individual homes and businesses. They do not require connection to a larger network.
SELCO meets its customers where they live. With its extensive network of service agents, it is able to provide at-home design consultation, installation, and after-sales service on all products sold. Proximity to its customers allows SELCO to better understand, efficiently service, and develop long-term relationships with them.
SELCO helps its customers finance their purchases by partnering with rural banks, leasing companies, and micro-finance organizations to provide the necessary credit. Combining these three elements creates a virtuous cycle. Using high-quality products reduces the cost of ongoing service and maintenance. With high quality products and ongoing service, SELCO's customers are able to receive financing for their purchases. By providing its combination of product, service, and finance, SELCO is able to offer superior lighting and electricity at a monthly price comparable to using traditional, less effective sources.
Impact
SELCO INDIA has, to date, reached out to 225,000 beneficiaries and in the last year has served 25,000 beneficiaries. SELCO creates strong social and environmental benefits for its customers and larger group of stakeholders through increased productivity. Its lighting products enable families to improve their productivity by allowing them to pursue income generating activities in the evening while their children can study under better light conditions. SELCO also partners with social organizations, striving as a company to be a leader in corporate social responsibility, not just based on the products we sell and the customers we serve, but also based on how we do business. They partner with farming cooperatives, NGOs, and other development agencies to leverage their ability to provide products and services to the underserved households.
SELCO products provide greenhouse gas mitigation. Each solar system it installs offsets global warming by reducing more than five tons of carbon dioxide, through reductions in kerosene usage.
Inspiration
"We envision a world in which no family needs to burn oil lamps for light, where wireless digital communications are available to everyone, and where young people can see a brighter future reflected in the solar cells that will power it."
The World Inquiry editorial team edited this profile from the original submission of the interviewer or other source. The views expressed do not necessarily represent Case Western Reserve University, the Weatherhead School of Management or the Center for Business as an Agent of World Benefit. More >>
