Harish Hande

Social entrepreneur and engineer who revolutionized rural solar energy access in India

Harish Hande (born 1968) is a visionary social entrepreneur and engineer whose work with SELCO Solar has transformed energy access for millions in rural India. As co-founder of SELCO India in 1995, he pioneered decentralized solar solutions tailored for low-income households, creating a model that combines technical innovation with community-centered design. His approach ensures affordability through creative financing and localized service networks, addressing both energy poverty and gender inequality by empowering women as primary beneficiaries and entrepreneurs in solar implementation.

Hande's work has been recognized globally, including the 2019 Ashden Award and the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize. His TED Talk Energy Access for All highlights his belief that energy solutions must be designed with communities rather than for them. Through SELCO's partnerships with over 150,000 rural households, Hande has demonstrated that sustainable development requires both technological ingenuity and deep cultural understanding. His advocacy for inclusive innovation has inspired similar models across Africa and Southeast Asia.

Hande's contributions extend beyond business to academia - he serves as professor at Ashesi University (Ghana) and teaches at Stanford's d.school. His writings like 'The Business of Solar Energy in Rural India' provide frameworks for scaling social enterprises. Critics note that challenges remain in policy alignment and large-scale grid integration, but Hande remains a pivotal figure proving that energy equity is achievable through grassroots innovation.