Periodic Reporting for period 1 - REACH (Renewable Energy and Connectivity Hub)
Periodo di rendicontazione: 2016-03-01 al 2016-08-31
Easy access to power will provide them better communication opportunity (via mobile phone) which will definitely help the under privileged people to improve their livelihood, increase their income and personal security. So, nowadays full functional mobile phone is not a luxury rather a necessity. And BuffaloGrid Hub will contribute substantially to keep the thousands of mobile phone in operation.
BuffaloGrid aims at creating the world’s first network of power and internet access provision for off-grid communities in developing countries. Successful deployment of the hubs in these countries will allow rural communities a reliable, clean and affordable access to mobile communication and internet connectivity, to facilitate local enterprises and drive economic growth.
In the commercial feasibility market research, environmental impact assessment, partnership establishment, risk analysis and competitor analysis were performed. Several field surveys were performed at Assam, Bihar, Jharkanda and Karnatka in India to identify people’s need for power, possible location of Hub placement, people’s willingness to pay. The field survey allowed us to start our first installations in India. Now 27 hubs are in operation in India. We have established partnerships in different sectors such as for Online services, improving people’s security, power connection in refugee camps etc. Our risk analysis study will support us to prepare alternate plans in order to cope with different challenges that come our way.
We have also performed our initial environmental assessment study which will allow us to be more sustainable and reduce our carbon footprint. We have developed a draft IPR plan and already submitted a patent application in the USA, UK, China and India. Finally, a lot of effort have been performed to prepare our business plan. Our thanks to our H2020 coach who has supported us to consolidate our financial plan and adjust it for the Indian economy market. With all of these analysis performed in this study we have identified our next technical and commercial tasks, which are mainly focused on further development of the Hub, PCB and server designs, Hub life cycle analysis (LCA), execution of planned works with several partners from EU, India and Africa, installation of new Hubs and finally control and monitor them.
Our innovative social business idea will work similar to the Nobel Prize winning concept by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Instead of giving loan to the underprivileged people, we will provide cost free hub to the local entrepreneurs (called hereafter as ‘BuffaloGrid agents or agents’) and the agents will get 30% of the total revenue. Additionally, the agents can generate a small business based on and around the hub’s activities.
The agents can take advantage of BuffaloGrid’s planned partnership with EU online services providers to establish e-education or e-health centre in their localities. On top of this, local agents can use the waiting time of the users to promote other side businesses. In this way each Hub will function as a small business centre for the agents and a communication heart for the local community.
The Hub uses solar energy to generate power. Hence, we will save 157 kg C02 for each hub per year. Globally we will contribute 11,771 ton CO2 emissions saving by 2023 (considering 74,975 hubs).