In order to capture day light and concentrate the same inside a dark room, particularly in urban slum or rural areas which lack electricity supply, a low cost and energy efficient Micro Solar Dome has been tested and developed.

Union Minister for Science & Technology and Earth Sciences, Dr. Harsh Vardhan today visited the dwelling units of Lalbagh clusters in Azadpur area of Delhi, where the PV Integrated Micro Solar Dome (MSD) – Surya Jyoti have been installed. The minister was pleased to notice how these lamps have improved the quality of life of the inhabitants especially of the women and children. Addressing the media, Dr. Harsh Vardhan said that this will also increase the productivity of women who stay at home and are involved in small income generation activities.  The Micro Solar Dome (MSD) is a clear and green energy initiative of the Department of   Science and Technology. The Minister added that this project will also supplement the Green Energy initiatives.  

The Micro Solar Dome (MSD) is a day and night lighting single device unique in its features, that has a transparent semi-spherical upper dome made of acrylic material which captures the sunlight and the light passes through a sun-tube having a thin layer of highly reflective coating on the inner wall of the passage. It also contains a lower dome made of acrylic. There is a shutter in the bottom of the lower dome which can be closed, if light is not required in the daytime.  It is leak proof and works throughout the day and 4 hours continuously after sunset. The entire development activities were taken up by an R&D Organisation under the aegis of the Department of Science & Technology.

The potential users of this device are the 10 million off-grid households in urban and rural spaces and several folds more that do not have reliable access to electricity. When these Surya Jyoti lamps, giving an illumination equivalent of a 60W incandescent lamp, are installed in 10 million households it would lead to a saving of 1750 million units of energy. It would also lead to an Emission Reduction of about 12.5 million ton of CO₂.

About 1000 Micro Solar domes now working in the slums of Delhi, Kolkata, Agartala, Guwahati, Bhopal and Bengaluru.   However, demand of the product is increasing manifold as more and more people are becoming aware of the unique benefits of using the product.  There are about 130 number of Surya Jyoti at Lalbag and nearby areas. The latest Surya Jyoti operates in three modes, day light without any electricity, night time with solar PV and night time with conventional grid after 17 hours of operation.

In order to cater to this ever increasing demand, an entrepreneurship development programme for manufacturing and installation of Surya Jyoti was organised during 18-22 October, 2016 in which 25 entrepreneurs and 7 voluntary organisation from 11 States of different regions were trained. The manufacturing process of the device is labour intensive and is expected to generate huge job opportunities.  A monthly production of 6000 units is envisaged by December, 2016 which will go up to 20000 by March, 2017.

 The Department of Science & Technology along with Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) will take it up for larger distribution in bigger areas.  The Department is also training and giving licenses to young entrepreneurs to have their own start-ups.  Self-help groups have also been trained to make these lamps and have been given licenses.

The PV integrated Micro Solar Dome costs about Rs. 1200 and Non-PV integrated Micro Solar Dome about Rs. 500 which would further reduce to about Rs. 900 and Rs. 400 respectively, post the scaling up of the manufacturing process.  

The PV Integrated Micro Solar Dome has been included as a product for off grid solar lighting applications by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and is eligible for subsidy at par with other solar lighting products. Attempts are being made to integrate Surya Jyoti for subsidy in rural and urban housing schemes, MP Local Area Development Schemes and corporate social responsibility activities of public sector enterprises