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Life in remote villages like Lingshed hasn’t changed much in centuries. Most people there are farmers. The village is home to Lingshed Monastery, where Buddhist monks have lived and people from the surrounding area have worshipped since 1440. The monks have relied on candles and kerosene lamps for light: Like about half the people in the Himalayas, they live without electricity.

In recent years, people in Himalayan villages have begun to abandon their ancient homes and way of life, says Loomba. As younger generations grow up, they move away to cities, where there are more opportunities.

Loomba thinks electricity can help villages like Lingshed better survive in the modern world. Not only does electricity provide access to light and computers, but it also gives the people who live there an income.

“Once we electrify villages, tourists come to stay in the homes there,” Loomba says. “They eat meals, they charge their phones and e-readers, and they pay the villagers for these services.” Since 2013, the Global Himalayan Expedition has managed to light up 25 villages.

Life in villages like Lingshed hasn’t changed much in centuries. Most people are farmers. The village is home to Lingshed Monastery. There, Buddhist monks have lived and local people have worshipped since 1440. The monks have needed candles and kerosene lamps for light. Like about half the people in the Himalayas, they live without electricity.

But Loomba says that something has changed in recent years. People have begun to leave their ancient homes and way of life. New generations grow up and move away to cities. They find more opportunities there.

Can villages like Lingshed survive in the modern world?  Loomba thinks electricity can help. Electricity gives local people access to light and computers. It also gives them an income.

“Once we electrify villages, tourists come to stay in the homes there,” Loomba says. “They eat meals, they charge their phones and e-readers, and they pay the villagers for these services.” The Global Himalayan Expedition has lit up 25 villages since 2013.

Most electricity in the world is produced in power stations that burn fossil fuels to heat water. Steam from the boiling water turns the gigantic blades of turbines to produce electricity. A network of power lines carries this electricity to homes and businesses. But these electricity supply systems often don’t extend to faraway places like Lingshed.

To tackle the problem, the Global Himalayan Expedition teamed up with the IEEE Smart Village initiative, based in New Jersey. They decided to bring electricity to distant areas using a system of solar microgrids (see Energy From the Sun). These local sources of electricity are shared among a group of people. In Lingshed, it would light up the monastery and a school, as well as power a small computer lab.

Most electricity in the world is produced in power stations. There, fossil fuels are burned to heat water. Steam from the boiling water turns the blades of turbines to produce electricity. A network of power lines carries this electricity to homes and businesses. But these electricity supply systems extend only so far. They often don’t reach remote places like Lingshed.

The Global Himalayan Expedition tackled the problem. They teamed up with the IEEE Smart Village initiative, based in New Jersey. They decided to bring electricity to distant areas using a system of solar microgrids (see Energy From the Sun). These local sources of electricity are shared among a group of people. In Lingshed, the system would light up the monastery and a school. It would also power a small computer lab.

Last August, a group of engineers and other volunteers began their journey to power up Lingshed. The team carried wires, batteries, LED bulbs, and solar panels—the devices that would convert sunlight into electricity. They brought enough supplies to build 14 microgrids.

The team’s microgrids would use direct current (DC), a form of electric current that flows in only one direction. It’s different from an alternating current (AC), which changes the electric current’s direction 60 times per second.

The AC system is more often used to transmit power over long distances. That’s because it’s easier to step down, or reduce, the large amount of electricity needed to send the power a long way. It’s necessary to step down the current so that it’s safe enough to flow through wall outlets and into homes.

The solar panels in Lingshed wouldn’t generate too much electricity or have far to go, making DC power the better choice. DC systems also lose less energy than AC systems. That’s because electricity is lost as the electric current in AC power alternates. So the DC setup would be more efficient, too.

“We can light up a whole house with exactly the same amount of power that you would use for one light bulb in America,” says Loomba.

Last August, a group of engineers and other volunteers began their journey. Their mission: to power up Lingshed. The team carried wires, batteries, LED bulbs, and solar panels. These devices turn sunlight into electricity. They brought enough supplies to build 14 microgrids.

The team’s microgrids would use direct current (DC). This form of electric current flows in only one direction. It’s different from an alternating current (AC). AC changes the electric current’s direction 60 times per second.

The AC system is used more often to carry power over long distances. That’s because it’s easier to step down, or reduce, the amount of electricity. A large amount of electricity is needed to send the power a long way. The current must be reduced so that it’s safe enough to flow through wall outlets and into homes.

The solar panels in Lingshed wouldn’t produce too much electricity or travel far. This made DC power the better choice. DC systems also lose less energy than AC systems. That’s because electricity is lost as the electric current in AC power alternates. So the DC setup would be more efficient, too.

“We can light up a whole house with exactly the same amount of power that you would use for one light bulb in America,” says Loomba.

When the group finally arrived in Lingshed, a long line of villagers, monks, and schoolchildren greeted them. The local people pitched in to help the volunteers string wire and tap nails into the monastery’s walls. With no electricity for power tools, they had to install the entire system by hand.

In a small building near the school’s dormitories, electrical engineer Dave Goldsmith, from Seattle, Washington, assembled Lingshed’s new computer lab. Most computers use far more energy than the solar-powered system could supply. So Goldsmith came up with a smart solution: a network of five small, inexpensive, low-power computers called Raspberry Pis. “A standard desktop computer runs on about 400 watts,” he says. “Raspberry Pis use only about 12 watts.” Watts are units that measure power, or how much electricity is being used by a device.

Goldsmith connected the computers to the internet using a satellite link. But paying to get online would be expensive for villagers. So he also connected the computers to an offline server—a computer where information is stored that’s connected to a network of other computers. This server downloads educational material, like online encyclopedias, when connected to the internet. Then kids can access the stored information even when they are offline.

“It was so cool to see the kids play with the computers. Some of them had never seen one before in their lives,” says Goldsmith. “They couldn’t stop smiling!”

The group finally arrived in Lingshed. A long line of villagers, monks, and schoolchildren greeted them. The local people helped the volunteers string wire and tap nails into the monastery’s walls. There was no electricity for power tools. They had to build the whole system by hand.

Electrical engineer Dave Goldsmith came from Seattle, Washington. He set up Lingshed’s new computer lab in a building near the school’s dormitories. The solar-powered system couldn’t supply enough energy for most computers. So Goldsmith came up with a smart solution. He built a network of five small, inexpensive, low-power computers. They’re called Raspberry Pis. “A standard desktop computer runs on about 400 watts,” he says. “Raspberry Pis use only about 12 watts.” Watts are units of power, or how much electricity a device uses.

Goldsmith connected the computers to the internet with a satellite link. But paying to get online would be expensive for villagers. So he also connected the computers to an offline server. That’s a computer that stores information and is connected to a network of other computers. This server downloads information when it’s connected to the internet. It can download educational material, like online encyclopedias. Then kids can use the stored information even when they’re offline.

“It was so cool to see the kids play with the computers. Some of them had never seen one before in their lives,” says Goldsmith. “They couldn’t stop smiling!”

After two days of hard work, the microgrids were ready for their debut. In the darkness, the monks stood around in silence, waiting for the magic moment. The volunteers took a deep breath and flipped the switch. Bright-white light suddenly filled the monastery.

“Monks are usually calm and silent. But they were clapping and jumping around,” says Loomba. “I’ve never seen a monk jumping before!”

Loomba is hopeful that Lingshed’s new lights will help keep the centuries-old village alive well into the future. Loomba says: “Light means a lot to people—especially when they have stayed in darkness for years and years.”

The volunteers worked hard for two days. Finally, the microgrids were ready. In the darkness, the monks stood around in silence. They waited for the magic moment. The volunteers took a deep breath and flipped the switch. Bright-white light suddenly filled the monastery.

“Monks are usually calm and silent. But they were clapping and jumping around,” says Loomba. “I’ve never seen a monk jumping before!”

Loomba hopes that Lingshed’s new lights will have a big effect. They may help keep the centuries-old village alive well into the future. He says: “Light means a lot to people—especially when they have stayed in darkness for years and years.”