Chandre Oram

Solar energy pioneer empowering India's rural poor through decentralized power solutions

Chandre Oram (b. 1968) emerged as a solar energy innovator in India's Sundarbans region, creating the first community-owned solar cooperative in 2000. His Greenpeace-supported initiatives provided 10,000+ households with off-grid solar systems, reducing kerosene dependency by 70%. Oram's Ashden Award-winning 'Solar Mela' festivals educated 50,000 villagers on renewable energy economics. He developed the 'Solar Seva' model where villagers earn income by maintaining solar installations, creating 1,500+ micro-entrepreneurs. His 2005 partnership with MIT engineers produced low-cost solar pumps that tripled agricultural productivity for 3,000 farmers. Oram's IRENA-cited work inspired India's National Solar Mission, and his Surya Jyoti foundation trains indigenous technicians. His 2012 TED Talk 'Lighting the Last Mile' has over 2M views, influencing global decentralized energy strategies.