NEW DELHI, INDIA: The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), with an objective to provide clean and reliable power solutions to a variety of rural applications, has developed a Hybrid Universal Solar Power Pack (HUSPP) that uses grid electricity as well as solar energy to charge batteries and provide reliable power for rural applications, specifically for ICT kiosks.

Power supply in rural areas is erratic and very often, not of the correct voltage. This leads to problems in running ICT kiosks. UPS/inverters are commonly used to overcome this problem. But, erratic power supply also means that UPS/ Inverter batteries cannot get charged reliably. After a lot of research, development exercise and feedback from the field TERI has come out with HUSPP, which can curb the power problem plaguing the running of rural ICT centers.

TERI's proprietary solution, named "TERI SolverterT (patent applied) does intelligent dual charging from solar energy as well as A/C mains and comes in a rugged box. HUSPP provides the functions of a UPS, it regulates and controls the solar energy inflow and outflow from the battery and takes care of low voltage problems while charging the battery from A/C mains. It completely replaces the use of conventional UPS in a computer system. The manufacturing partner for this product is epower Solution India Pvt Ltd.

In the first phase, TERI has installed Solverters in Gualpahari, Haryana; Baramati, Maharstra; Ramnagar, Banlgalore; Neelmangala, Bangalore; IL, Kota; Supi, Mukteshwar (Uttrakhand); and is further planning to set-up more ICT centers in different geographies to serve the population around the catchment area of the geography with its expertise knowledge and services. Through this endeavor TERI aims to create a platform in rural India which can be used as 'single window' for communication, education, sharing local knowledge, improving economies, and incorporating best practices for development.

Dr R.K. Pachauri, Director-General, TERI said: "HUSPP has been piloted at a few locations across the length and breadth of India and has been found to successfully provide an average backup of 4-6 hrs in the absence of electricity. It is useful for rural ICT initiatives as well as for other applications which depend critically on reliable power supply such as rural banking, health clinics, water purification etc."

Some of the other key features of HUSPP are solar priority charging and dual output options i.e. AC and DC supply voltages. The AC voltage outlet would be used for connecting computer system and the DC outlet would be used for devices such as solar lanterns, DC fan, radio, water purifier and even a small B/W TV. This option of using multiple AC and DC devices would enable the kiosk operator to offer more services to the community and enhance his/her business viability.

With HUSPP technology, TERI hopes that there would be no hindrance in spreading the ICT initiatives in remote rural areas.