By Niels Krogh Søndergaard, AAU Communication and Public Affairs
Photos: Birgitte Bak-Jensen

The SUSTENANCE project, now in its climactic final year, is showcasing its impactful work in rural India, where life without electricity and wood-fired stoves in the kitchen is the stark reality. The contrast is significant to the bustling streets and towering infrastructure of India's urban centers, the rural village Barubeda where SUSTENANCE has laid its focus tells a story of transformation and hope.

- Traveling from the vicinity of massive industrial setups to a village untouched by the grid was a journey from one reality to another," said Professor Birgitte Bak-Jensen, the project's lead researcher.

- Here, the introduction of solar panels and a small wind turbine signifies not just access to electricity but a leap towards sustainable living.

Flexible Energy Transitions

The EU and India co-financed project SUSTENANCE is not just about electrification. It's about integrating renewable energy into the daily life of the village, ensuring that even during the night or on windless, sunless days, the community remains powered.

- Every household now has four power outlets and light sockets, a small change that dramatically improves their quality of life, Birgitte Bak-Jensen notes.

The adaptability at the heart of SUSTENANCE is evident in its approach to the challenges posed by the local environment in the Indian part of the project. The wind turbine, for example, is an example of this flexibility. The windmill is designed specifically for an area where wind speeds are typically low.

- It’s a unique solution that captures and accelerates wind to generate power efficiently, Bak-Jensen explains.

Bringing Inspiration Back

The research project extends beyond electricity to biogas, and prototypes of novel energy systems and outputs are installed in the Indian village. Electric scooters and rickshaws have been introduced in smaller numbers, and a new water pump and filtration system now provides access to clean drinking water, a critical aspect of improving health and well-being.

The project was also the first to introduce the Indian village to a multi-use heat pump that both cools and heats, serving dual purposes from preserving milk and other foods with cooling to drying vegetables/crops with a heating process – a heat pump that will serve the community in several productive ways.

Reflecting on the broader implications of the project, Bak-Jensen says:

- Why aren't we implementing similar multi-functional heat pumps in Denmark? The technology developed for a small village in India has the potential to inspire sustainable innovations globally.

India seen with Danish, Dutch, and Polish Eyes

As SUSTENANCE has come to its final year, and the impact of its work is evident not just in the tangible improvements in the village but in the project's contribution to both the European and Global dialogue on sustainable development.

- Optimizing local energy consumption and production without overloading the grid is the core of our work, Bak-Jensen emphasizes.

- This balance is crucial, whether in rural India or Denmark.

With partners across Europe and India, the project represents a significant international collaboration aimed at local energy community development, primarily in rural areas. The shared learning and successes of SUSTENANCE highlight the universal challenge and promise of sustainable energy solutions.

Inspiration brings light

The findings from the project could offer a blueprint or inspiration for similar communities worldwide. The vision of SUSTENANCE, powered by the sun, wind, and innovative thinking, could light the way for many more villages, transforming the global energy landscape towards more flexibility and resilience.

- Seeing the joy in the village as they were introduced to electricity for the first time was a profound reminder of the impact of our work. It's about bringing light, literally and metaphorically, to people's lives, says the research lead.