DON’T CURSE THE DARKNESS - LIGHT A SOLAR LANTERN
By Mario Mascarenhas.

The next time your lights go out at night, don’t yell, “Padd pdddonk...!”  Just switch on a Solar Lantern and let the sunshine in.

Solar Lanterns and sunshine at night? 

Yes.  Meet Mr. Prakash S Nagvekar and he will tell you all about solar energy and how it can light up your life.  That’s right, Mr. Nagvekar - a simple, common Goenkar who is one of the most helpful and friendly government officials you can talk to.

Nagvekar, works for the Goa Energy Development Agency (GEDA) that is introducing the State to new gadgets and technologies.  These use non-conventional and renewable energy sources – like the sun.

If you have the privilege of talking to this friendly, modest, little man, he will unravel the mysteries of solar energy, photovoltaic modules and storage cells.  He will give you a demonstration of how you can put the sun to work for you every day, and more dramatically, every night. 

The Solar Lantern is GEDAs showpiece.

It consists of a small tubelight (Compact Fluorescent Lamp or CFL), a storage cell and the electronic circuitry all housed in an attractive lantern that looks like a ‘designer’ petromax!  The common Goenkar will definitely tick with this magic ‘lampiao’ that can be placed on a table or hung like a conventional lantern.

 However, does the average Goan house need one?

“I have one for the last three years”, says Nagvekar encouragingly.  “It charges during the day and I switch it on every night.  It takes the place of one light in my house and I save on electricity bills...”

“It can also be used as an emergency lamp, a portable lantern, a lamp on bullock carts, small shops and gaddos at night, on fishing boats and trawlers”, he added. 

A Photovoltaic Module, also known as a Solar Panel or Solar Cell, charges the Solar Lantern.  This 15 inch square panel is kept in the light – not necessarily sunlight – and is connected by a wire to the lantern.  Light particles (photons) that fall on the Cell release electrons from the cell that then flow into the storage cell of the lantern in the form of electricity.  The storage cell in the lantern can store enough power to run it for at least three hours.

The only disappointing news about the Solar Lantern is its price.  The cost before subsidy is Rs. 3,750.  A Rs. 1,500 subsidy from the Central Government brings the final price to Rs. 2,250.  This is still expensive for the common person in our villages.

GEDA and its parent body the Department of Science, Technology and Environment has moved the State Government for a further subsidy of Rs. 500.  This positive, pro-people move will further lower the price of the Solar Lantern to Rs. 1,750.  A decision is expected sometime soon.

Similar to the Solar Lantern, GEDA also offers Solar Street Lighting fixtures (Photograph 2).  These are not for individual use and are limited to non-commercial institutions and government bodies.  The cost of each fixture is around Rs. 24,000.  A total subsidy of Rs. 17,000 (Rs. 12,000 from the Central Government and Rs. 5,000 from the State Government) drastically reduces the cost to around Rs. 7,000.         

Two more solar energy lighting schemes are available.  These are for Home Lighting and Garden Lighting (Photograph 3)  However, they will be subsidised by the Central and State governments only after April this year says Mr. A M Shaikh the Member Secretary and person in charge of GEDA.

“For the common person, photovoltaic technology is still expensive in comparison with the heavily subsidised electric power supply by the government”, says Dr Varde, the Director of the Department of Science, Technology and Environment.  “But”, he adds quickly “ for the person who is committed to the environment and for big commercial establishments who would like to be eco-friendly in some ways, it does make a lot of sense”.

While the Central Government is promoting renewable energy technologies by subsidising costs, it still squeezes out taxes and import duties from the consumer.  For example, Central Sales Tax makes the Solar Lantern 4% costlier in Goa.  And if the present State Government has its way, it will slap on another 4% as local Sales Tax.  Import and Custom duties on certain raw materials of Photovoltaic Cells, make them 30% more expensive in India than abroad.

“These are the hidden costs that put solar powered technologies out of the reach of the middle class and poor”, says a local entrepreneur who deals with solar powered equipment in Goa.

If the present State Government can part with an additional Rs. 500 subsidy, then at Rs. 1,750, the Solar Lantern becomes a tempting buy.  Conventional Emergency Lamps with similar outputs cost in the region of Rs. 1,300, but still need electricity to charge them.  In comparison, the Solar Lantern will be a cost effective, eco-friendly alternative.

The Solar Lantern is available at the Block Development Office (BDO) in your taluka.

If you cannot get it there, meet Nagvekar at GEDA, on the Saligao hill, opposite the Seminary. 

Phone him if you wish on 271194, or Fax him on 278186.  If you are e-connected, email him at <ste@goa.goa.nic.in> Do it any way you choose, but check out that Solar Lantern.

Let solar energy light up those many, dark, Goan nights...and your life as well.

Digitial Photography By Mario Mascarenhas