Shell Foundation

In order to develop up Husk Power Systems, a rural electrification company, the Shell Foundation has been collaborating with a group of gifted entrepreneurs in Bihar, one of the poorest states in India, since 2008. The company gasifies rice husk, a plentiful waste feedstock that can be found all over India's rice belt, to create power, which it then distributes to nearby villages on a pay-as-you-go basis.

Over 200,000 people in Bihar state are currently served by Husk Power Systems' 80 power plants, and during the course of the next year, the company intends to expand nationwide.

Shell Foundation is working with the rural marketing company, Project Dharma, a social enterprise established in September 2009, to serve the needs of rural households at the Bottom of the Pyramid by creating a rural distribution network providing customised products and services sold at a socially affordable price point. The company provides income generating opportunities for rural entrepreneurs and consumers in order to create sustainable livelihoods at the rural level.

Shell helps the world transition to a future where the energy we consume has a negligible impact on the environment by providing energy in an ethical manner. We acknowledge the significance of climate change and our part in assisting individuals in achieving and preserving a high standard of living.

Energy is necessary for our planet to sustain and enhance the lives of a growing population. Shell supplies energy in an environmentally conscious manner, striving to minimize its effects while facilitating the shift to a future with reduced carbon emissions.

Local dependent communities and biodiversity may be impacted by our projects. We implement strict guidelines to lessen the potential effects of our operations, especially in key habitats—biodiversity-rich or protected places.

We collaborate with a number of environmental organizations, such as Wetlands International, The Nature Conservancy, Earthwatch, and the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Restoration of nearby natural habitats and ecosystems is one of our efforts with biodiversity partners.

The Shell Foundation has been attempting to develop a market in India for "clean" cookstoves—that is, stoves that drastically cut down on fuel use, emissions, and cooking time—since 2002.

As a global strategic partner, Shell Foundation co-founded Envirofit in 2007 with the goal of designing, manufacturing and distributing clean cookstoves. Envirofit is currently leading the clean cookstove market in India, having sold over 300,000 units.