Experts from Sheffield Hallam University are changing the way villages in the remotest areas of Sri Lanka get their water, through the use of innovative solar energy schemes.

The Solar Village Project - which was co-founded by Professor IM Dharmadasa (Dharme) from Sheffield Hallam, and Dr Krishan Deheragoda, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority - combines activities for improving economic and social development, with the reduction of poverty, through clean energy technologies.

While working on the development of low-cost and more efficient solar panels at Sheffield Hallam University, Dharme is using currently available solar panels in the market to pump water, saving on the cost of diesel and freeing funds to be invested in schools, libraries and educational improvements.

Originally piloted to serve Sri Lankan villages not connected to the national grid, the scheme is now being rolled out across other areas of the country specifically to resettle those areas affected by civil conflict in the north and east, and into other developing countries.

Dharme has been working on solar energy research for more than thirty years and is recognised as one of the world's leading experts in the field. He believes that harnessing the natural resource of the sun can bring massive benefits to communities throughout the developing world in the early stages and to the whole world after full maturity.

'Introducing solar panels to villages can radically change the way people live, how they spend their money and help the community prosper, as well as improving the environment.'

Having recently presented the project to a conference in Colombo, Dharme says the principle can be tailored to meet the needs of specific villages and can be replicated in developing countries across the world. In most cases the communities also receive guidance in environmentally friendly projects such as tree planting, organic farming and bee-keeping too.

'This is a very exciting project and we are on the verge of seeing how new technology really can change the lives of people in poor areas. By using solar panels we have powered water pumps to benefit all of the villagers and save them money by not having to buy diesel fuel for their pumps.

'On average, the introduction of solar-powered water pumps saves around £500 per year - a significant amount in Sri Lankan villages - and this saving is being re-invested in schools, books and other educational work.'

Dharme is now keen to raise awareness in other countries about how clean energy technology can reduce poverty, and he is embarking on a programme of training the trainers in countries such as Libya, Nigeria, Kuwait, Malaysia and the Maldives.

For further information, visit www.shu.ac.uk/research/meri/seg