solar essentials

We were invited to explore how solar energy could better serve low-income households in developing countries, with a particular focus on India. The challenge was to move beyond traditional infrastructure thinking and design energy solutions that felt personal, useful, and immediate.

Through research and community insights, we found that energy needs in these homes are practical and closely tied to everyday life: lighting, cooking, communication. Reliable solar products could do more than power devices; they could shift routines, safety, and opportunities.

We framed the opportunity around a modular Solar Home System: a simple solar panel, a control unit, and a set of interoperable products. This approach allowed families to start small and scale as needed, adapting the system to their evolving needs without major investment.

We designed each part of the system to be intuitive, durable, and affordable. Every design decision, from the form of the control box to the product interfaces, was made to feel approachable and empowering, even for first-time technology users.

This project marks a first step toward solar-powered living that’s not just accessible, but truly attuned to the rhythms of daily life. A system designed not only to deliver energy, but to quietly enhance it.