Ravi Kanna

Pioneered affordable solar energy solutions for rural India, empowering millions

Ravi Kanna (b. 1989) is a visionary engineer and social entrepreneur who revolutionized renewable energy access in India's remote villages. In 2021, he launched Solar Harvest, a nonprofit developing ultra-low-cost solar microgrids using repurposed smartphone batteries. This innovation reduced system costs by 60% compared to traditional solar installations. By 2023, his projects had electrified over 1,200 villages, providing clean energy to 800,000 people while creating 3,500 local jobs in installation and maintenance.

Kanna's breakthrough came from his 2019 MIT fellowship research, where he discovered that lithium-ion batteries from discarded smartphones retained 70% usable capacity. His team developed patent-pending battery stacking technology that aggregates these modules into scalable power systems. This approach not only reduces e-waste but also empowers women through battery collection networks in 15 Indian states.

His work was featured in Forbes India and earned him the 2022 Global Energy Prize. Kanna's model inspired similar initiatives in Bangladesh and Nepal, demonstrating how tech innovation can bridge the energy divide. His upcoming book Solar Solutions for Rural India (2024) details his strategies for scaling grassroots renewable energy projects worldwide.