Fueling Sustainability: The Exponential Impact of Empowering Off-Grid Communities

Alternative means for a basic electricity service are needed for the world's off-grid communities. Reliable access to electricity is widely regarded as a keystone to overcoming poverty, dramatically enhancing quality of life, and encouraging sustainable community prosperity. Such access is necessary to achieve other benefits such as education, public-health services or lean water and sanitation, and opportunities for participating in the global economy. IEEE Smart Village, organized in 2010, exists to empower off-grid communities through education and the development of sustainable local energy businesses (microutilities) that are owned and operated by local entrepreneurs. IEEE Smart Village offers technical solutions, technical training, innovative business models, and entrepreneurship training to establish a local business that is technically and financially sustainable. Seed funding is provided to local nongovernmental organization (NGO) partners for microutility equipment, and, through IEEE Smart Village's incubator process, local entrepreneurs receive training and support to grow a self-sustaining business of the scope and character that best fulfills the needs of customers in their specific communities. All profits and benefits remain within the local communities.