Aruna Handha

Indian social entrepreneur pioneering clean energy solutions for rural electrification

Aruna Handha is an Indian innovator and founder of Solar Wattz, a company that provides solar energy solutions to underserved rural communities. Born in 1975 in Mumbai, Handha's childhood in energy-poor villages motivated her to address India's energy inequality. After earning an engineering degree from IIT Delhi, she worked in renewable energy projects across 12 states, witnessing first-hand the challenges of grid connectivity in remote areas.

In 2002, Handha launched Solar Wattz with a mission to provide affordable solar home systems through a pay-as-you-go model. By 2010, the company had installed over 50,000 solar units in villages, reducing kerosene dependency by 80% in those regions. Her Community Solar Grid model, introduced in 2008, allowed shared solar panels among households, cutting costs by 40%. This approach was later adopted by the Indian government's National Solar Mission.

Handha's work has been featured in Ashoka Innovators for the Public profiles and recognized by the UNDP's 2015 Gender Equality Award. Her 2017 book Lighting the Unlit details her journey and the technical challenges overcome in rural electrification. By 2020, Solar Wattz had expanded to Bangladesh and Nepal, serving over 2 million people.

Despite her significant contributions, Handha remains less prominent in mainstream media. Her innovations are studied in MIT's Energy Initiative case studies, and her company's modular solar kits are now used by NGOs worldwide to replicate her models.