This video can be downloaded here: www.ashdenawards.org The Aryavart Gramin bank won an Ashden Award for Sustainable Energy in 2008. To find out more visit the link above and check out the Ashden Awards Blog ashdenawards.blogspot.com The Aryavart Gramin bank in Uttar Pradesh used solar photovoltaic (PV) systems to back-up the unreliable grid power for some of its branches, and recognised the potential of PV for its many off-grid customers. The bank set up a bulk supply and installation agreement with TATA-BP for PV solar-home-systems, and provides loans for its customers with a good credit record to purchase the systems. To date 10100 loans have been approved and 8000 solar-home-systems installed. Local entrepreneurs are paid by the bank to service and maintain systems. The Aryavart Gramin bank has a target of 25000 solar-home-systems this year, and is promoting the idea of its SHS loan scheme to other rural banks.