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Sep 2001
From water-turbines to electric trams
Auroville Energy
Products specialises in the sale of solar energy products and
micro-hydro systems, and provides consultancy on rural electrification.
Its research projects focus on the development of solar transport.
Carsten, a 40 year old
German electronic engineer started Auroville Energy Products in 1996.
One of the first projects was a micro-hydroelectricity system in Putsil,
Orissa. More systems followed. AEP also manufactures small portable
solar lanterns and sells highly sophisticated charge controllers,
electronic devices to control the charge and discharge of the battery.
Apart from selling solar
products, AEP is also involved with consultancy and research. Carsten is
just back from a trip to Nepal. "The European Union wants to
implement a large project for rural electrification, and along with a
few others I got the assignment to evaluate the situation, judge what is
possible and feasible and what technology should be used. It is a very
exciting project, Nepal has a lot of isolated valleys, and is ideal for
solar. As an offspring, more and more ideas are coming up how to develop
solar systems for the rural area. In cooperation with a Pondy company we
are now designing a solar water-ozoniser, a water purification system
that runs on solar and which is extremely beneficial for these areas and
for those such as Orissa which have recently been hit by a
cyclone."
But Carsten's main interest is solar transport. AEP has developed the
second generation of solar bicycles and is involved in realizing a solar
tram project in Auroville.
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