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Considering that Google Inc. has more than $13 billion in cash, its shares trade above $600 apiece and the Bill and Melinda Gates foundation has handed out billions of dollars in charitable contributions, the search giant's $10 million investment in eSolar Inc. doesn't amount to much as a blow for renewable energy. But it's a start. Google on Thursday revealed more details of its initiatives to combat climate change, poverty and emerging health problems and other global threats. As part of that effort, the Mountain View, Calif., company will commit $25 million in new grants and investments to its initial partners. The money it will invest in eSolar is the largest piece of this funding. Pasadena, Calif.-based eSolar makes large-scale solar arrays that use reflected sunlight as a heat source to drive electric generators. Unlike photovoltaic systems that use semiconductor materials to convert sunlight into electrons, solar thermal systems use the sun's heat to create steam for powering generators. Among the company's other investors are Oak Investment Partners of Westport, Conn., and technology incubator Idealab, also of Pasadena. An eSolar representative would not disclose how much Oak and Idealab invested in the company, nor discuss how it plans to use the funding from Google. In November, Google announced a strategic initiative to develop electricity from renewable energy sources that would be cheaper than power generated using coal. At the time, the company disclosed it would work with both eSolar and Makani Power Inc., an Alameda, Calif., company that is developing high-altitude wind energy extraction technologies. The search leader also is soliciting proposals seeking investment for businesses aimed at speeding the commercialization of electric vehicles. It will invest between $500,000 and $2 million in select for-profit companies to enable widespread commercialization of electric vehicles, plug-in hybrids and other so-called vehicle-to-grid solutions. Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page have said the company will seek to devote roughly 1% of the company's equity and 1% of its annual profits to philanthropic activities. Unlike conventional philanthropies, the company's charitable organization can direct grants or invest in for-profit companies that may yield returns. The company is also supporting efforts to help communities predict and prevent events such as infectious diseases, drought and other environmental disasters before they become crises. Initially it is focusing on Southeast Asia and tropical Africa, a hot spot for severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, and potentially, bird flu. Initial grants include: $5 million to InStedd (Innovative Support to Emergencies, Diseases and Disasters) to improve early detection, preparedness and response for global health threats and humanitarian crises; $2.5 million to the Global Health and Security Initiative to prevent, detect and respond to biological threats; and more than $600,000 to Clark University in Worcester, Mass., for it to develop a system to improve monitoring, analysis and prediction of the impacts of climate variability and changes in ecosystems, food and health. To improve basic public services for the poor in India and East Africa, Google is providing $2 million in a grant to Pratham, a nongovernmental organization in India that works to support education in that country; $765,000 to the Centre for Budget and Policy Studies, a Bangalore-based analysis group, to facilitate better district- and municipal-level level planning in India; and $660,000 to the Center for Policy Research, an action-oriented think tank based in India, to increase the debate and discourse on issues of urban local governance and urban service delivery. Finally, to help fuel the growth of small and midsize enterprises, Google is providing a $4.7 million grant to TechnoServe, a group that works to reduce global poverty.  Deal Video
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I am a promoter of solar photovoltaic products and have to move to rural areas to promote the products. I have come upon certain villages which need basic amenities like light, roads,schools etc. My intention is to provide these below poverty line families with solar lanterns I wish to distribute around 500 lanterns for which approximately Rs 20 Lakhs INR funds are required. Please revert back if the funds can be arranged.
Thanking you
My address is as follows,
Sanjay G Kulkarni
No 51, 3rd Cross, 4th Main, Silver Town, Gokul Road, Hubli 580 030 Karnataka, India