Hygge Energy successfully showcased the first-of-its-kind peer-to-peer (P2P) energy-sharing model in the village of Sohrarim in East Khasi Hills.
P2P energy sharing means sharing excess renewable energy with the local communities. On April 19, using the patented P2P trading mechanism of the renewable power and carbon trading system installed at a Smart Village Community Learning Centre in Sohrarim, Hygge transferred solar energy from the learning centre to Tirot Singh Syiem School, which is half a kilometre away. The school was experiencing regular long-term power outages and load-shedding issues, particularly during the monsoon season, adversely impacting its students and their learning.
In August 2021, Hygge installed a renewable power and carbon trading system, which included a solar microgrid, at the Community Learning Centre. This initiative was led by the Smart Village Movement and its education partners – Sauramandala Foundation, Project DEFY, Salesforce, Curiosity Gym and Open Door Project.
Of the total renewable energy produced, 40 percent was sufficient to power the learning centre, leaving 60 percent available for other purposes. Smart Village Movement and Hygge Energy collaborated to share one-third of this surplus energy with a nearby school, allowing it to have a consistent and dependable energy supply and operate without interruptions.
Sumarlin Syiemlieh, Principal of Tirot Singh Syiem School, was quoted as saying in a press release, “During the rainy season there are frequent power cuts and we had difficulty taking classes. We’ve had fewer electrical problems since getting solar energy from Hygge, and it’ll be incredibly useful for our school, especially around examinations. If we can link solar electricity to the village community hall too, it will be very useful for meetings, training, and other community programmes.”
This innovative concept is a collaboration between the Smart Village Movement initiative of the Meghalaya government and Hygge Energy. Hygge’s approach provides communities with increased energy reliability by reducing strain on the central power grid during peak demand periods, which results in fewer power outages and more stability in the energy system. This also decreases reliance on traditional energy sources and lowers the cost of energy consumption. Hygge’s system is reliable, easy to maintain, and emits zero carbon, making the learning centre sustainable and self-sufficient while increasing productivity, the release stated.
“I’m glad to witness the success of the pioneering P2P energy-sharing model in Sohrarim village. This commendable collaborative effort between the Smart Village Movement of the government of Meghalaya, Hygge Energy and other partners has showcased and galvanised the adoption of sustainable and clean energy practices,” said Ramkumar S, Nodal Officer of SVM Meghalaya,.
Hygge Energy founder and CEO, Prateek Saxena, said, “We are immeasurably grateful to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma, CEO of MBDA Sampath Kumar and Anil Shah, Executive Chairman of UC Berkeley’s Smart Village Movement, for their vision to use education as an engine for economic growth and job creation. We support that vision. Through the peer-to-peer operations of our renewable power and carbon trading system at the Smart Village Community Learning Centre in Sohrarim, Meghalaya, we endeavour to not only create a sizeable social and economic impact in such remotely situated villages via continuous access to affordable energy but also promote sustainable and clean energy as the preferred choice for these communities. Additionally, Hygge’s system also facilitates aggregation and monetisation of carbon credits to add another revenue source, making it profitable for our partners and customers.”
In Sohrarim, known for its heavy rainfall, Hygge Energy’s algorithms kept the Community Learning Centre operating during the heaviest rains. The centre had reliable access to electricity, allowing students to continue learning and villagers to charge their devices. Hygge Energy’s sustainable energy solutions provide uninterrupted power for the entire community.
The P2P energy-sharing model has sparked interest in the region due to its successful demonstration. Tirot Singh Syiem School’s students and staff are thrilled to have access to reliable electricity. Daphinylla Dohling, a student, shared her experience, saying, “Electricity in our area is unstable, especially on rainy days. We have scheduled power outages twice daily, from 9-11am and 5-7pm. But the installation of solar power at our school has been a big relief. As students, the daily power cuts affect us greatly, particularly during the cloudy season when we struggle to read the blackboard and study from books.”
Hygge Energy’s P2P energy-sharing model also aims to create Entrepreneur Zones (EZs) composed of multiple businesses within the radius of their renewable power and carbon trading system. By utilising solar energy produced by Hygge’s system, individuals at the bottom of the pyramid can use it for entrepreneurial purposes and other productive uses. EZs are expected to contribute to the overall economic growth and prosperity of villages like Sohrarim.
