Ramgarh Micro Hydro Project in India

Renewable energy can easily be harnessed on a small scale, at or near the place where the energy is needed. This ‘decentralised’ approach to energy production means that a system can be designed according to what resources are locally available, and with regard to local demand. These photographs show how this approach is transforming the village of Ramgarh. Nestled in the Himalayas, Ramgarh was bereft of any form of electricity until a micro hydro power project was installed in 1995. Today, the plant successfully caters to the 372 households in the village, and the site is being developed as a tourist destination by the local administration. With the success of Ramgarh, several more micro hydro power plants in the state have been synchronized with the grid. The Ramgarh Micro Hydro Project is promoted by UREDA (Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency) and run by the Ramgarh Urja Samiti, a committee of villagers who are the beneficiaries of the project.