Millions of people worldwide are living in regions lacking national grids – the basic infrastructures of water, electricity, and sewage. This lack of a grid is referred to as living ‘Off-Grid’. Living off-grid has a direct impact on the quality of life and health, and it is the most prominent indicator of global injustice in the distribution of resources. In most cases, there is no future prospect of obtaining traditional grid connectivity.
Consequently, there is a need to formulate solid strategies and tools to deal with the implications of living off-grid. Implications such as irregular water supply for drinking and irrigation or the need to travel great distances to reach a safe water source, lack of electricity for operating medical clinics, schools and domestic homes, sanitation issues, difficulties in cooling and storing food and medicine safely, even charging small appliances like cell phones or laptops. The list goes on…
The attempt to deal with these ramifications is part of an overall effort to tackle world poverty in developing countries. Currently, there are numerous organizations trying to deal with off-grid regions, such as the UN, the World Bank, and other aid organizations and businesses. Support in these areas cannot be planned without the familiarity of the sociological structures and individual needs and culture of these communities. In the past, several unreasonably complicated or high maintenance technologies were sent to off-grid areas with the best of intentions, yet these provided unsuitable solutions for the local people.
The village is a demonstration site for off-grid infrastructure and technologies, a test-field / validation center for start-up companies, a center for training and seminars on the topic of renewable energy and off-grid eco-tech, and a tourist center for raising awareness to the off-grid world. We are constantly looking for solutions to be demonstrated at our village, aspiring to showcase a variety of solutions for Food-Energy-Water (FEW) solutions. Including medical relief-aid solutions for places that have undertaken natural weather disasters or marginalized populations like refugee camps. The technologies displayed at the village get high exposure to a variety of worldwide visitors, purchasing delegations, government and decision makers, donors, delegations from developing countries and more (approx. 5000 visitors a year).
The project aims to be a catalyst for development of off grid solutions, and promotion of eco-tech to the developing world.
Tours and Seminars
We offer educational, hand on experience tours and seminars in off-grid living. Topic range from cooking, harnessing the sun, bio-gas, water, climatic building solutions and many more. All tours and seminars are tailor made to the group’s background and available time. For details contact us
In addition, during 2017 an academic program in the field of “Off Grid Technologies for the Developing World” was launched as part of engineering studies. Read more about the academic courses.
