Anand Prabhu

Indian engineer who pioneered solar energy solutions for rural electrification in the early 2000s

Anand Prabhu (b. 1972) revolutionized renewable energy access through his company Surya Energy Solutions, established in 2001. His innovative solar microgrid systems provided electricity to over 500,000 rural households in India's remote regions by 2010. The 'Solar Bicycle Charger' invention (2005) became a global model for low-cost energy storage. Partnering with TERI, he developed the 'Solar Empowerment Program', training 15,000 rural technicians by 2015. His 2008 white paper 'Decentralized Solar Networks' influenced India's National Solar Mission. Prabhu's TEDx talk 'Lighting Up Darkness' (2012) has over 800,000 views. His work inspired similar initiatives in Bangladesh and Kenya, with UNDP adopting his models in 12 countries. The 2016 documentary 'Anand's Sun' (available on Kinopoisk) details his innovations.