PV operated mobile oil pumping station in rural India - a new initiative

The lack of efficient infrastructure concerning distribution of fossil oil in rural India is causing pressure on the national socio-economy. While large number of rural households are still unelectrified and depend heavily on petroleum products for lighting and other energy needs. To improve this situation a small but innovative intervention with the help of PV application has been initiated for the first time in the country in the State of West Bengal. This is a pedal operated mobile van containing a PV unit and pumping system with a storage container constituting a complete mobile oil pumping station. The unit is multipurpose in function. This paper describes the initiative.