Dhordo Village goes 100 percent solar in Gujarat

The village of Dhordo in the Kutch district of Gujarat has gone entirely solar, and this is a significant step in the renewable energy process in India. Dhordo is already known as the Best Tourism Village acknowledged by UNWTO and is the fourth solar village in Gujarat after the previously mentioned Modhera, Sukhi and Masali. Prime minister Narendra Modi will devote this success on 20 September in the Samudra Se Samriddhi event, Bhavnagar.

Solar Power Initiative

• Introduced as the PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana.
• All 81 homes fitted with solar rooftops.
• Power capacity: 177 kW, with an almost 2.95 lakh units per annum.
• Power surplus was sold to the grid, guaranteeing additional income to the residents.

Economic Benefits

• The amount saved by each household is around Rs16,064/per annum.
• Community good of the village per annum: in excess of Rs13 lakh.
• The transition was affordable to the villagers due to subsidies and loans.

Community Impact

• Solarisation minimizes costs and enhances the quality of life.
• Central and state leadership is attributed by villagers who are led by Sarpanch Miyan Hussain.
• Dhordo displays the means of remote communities to become self-sufficient in energy.

Environmental Significance

• Minimizes the use of fossil fuels.
• Cuts down on the level of carbon emissions and contributes to the climate targets of India.
• Provides a blueprint of sustainable rural development in India.