Aditi Prakash

Indian renewable energy leader advancing women's participation in solar sector

Aditi Prakash is the founder of Solar Luminaries, an organization training marginalized women to become solar engineers in India's rural areas. Her initiatives directly address the twin challenges of energy poverty and gender inequality through innovative vocational training programs. Since 2018, over 1,200 women have graduated from her solar technician courses, creating sustainable livelihoods in regions lacking electricity access.

Prakash pioneered the 'Solar SEWA' model partnering with Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) to establish decentralized solar microgrids. This approach empowers women to become energy entrepreneurs, managing solar installations and maintenance in their communities. Her work contributed to India's renewable energy targets, with installations from her projects providing clean energy to 250,000+ households by 2023.

Amitabh Kant, CEO of India's NITI Aayog, called Prakash's model 'a blueprint for inclusive development' in his 2022 keynote speech. Her organization's training curriculum has been adopted by UNDP's Energy Access Facility program, scaling impact across South Asia. Prakash advocates for policy changes through platforms like IRENA and co-authored the Gender Inclusive Solar Policy Framework published by the International Renewable Energy Agency in 2021.