NADI Solar-Powered Water Pump Named as Finalist for Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Award

NADI™, an eco-friendly, low cost solar-powered water pump that provides reliable irrigation for agricultural applications and the first product marketed under the company’s STANEY EARTH™ brand, has been named as a finalist for Fast Company’s 2020 World Changing Ideas Awards in the Developing World Technology category.

Now in its fourth year, World Changing Ideas is one of Fast Company’s major annual awards programs focused on social good, and the program seeks to recognize finished products and brave concepts that make the world better. The Developing World Technology category recognizes products designed for those on the bottom of the pyramid and that can help lead to leapfrog innovation. This year the program received its largest number of entries to date.

Launched in early 2019, NADI is a smart solar pump that helps equip farmers in rural India impacted by dwindling water reserves and irregular irrigation due to unreliable electricity with more reliable and sustainable irrigation. The technology reflects the company’s commitment to Innovating with Purpose, a key pillar of its 2030 CSR strategy.

“As a company that makes products and services that help create and shape our world, we have the responsibility to innovate products that can address society’s biggest challenges, which is why we’ve set an ambitious target to deliver solutions that can help enhance the lives of 500 million people,” said Stanley Black & Decker Corporate Responsibilty Officer Deb Geyer. “NADI is a perfect example of this commitment, helping farmers in India overcome major energy instability and water scarcity challenges to improve crop yields and become more successful – the recognition from Fast Company is a great honor that further validates the work we’re doing.”

NADI is now being used by farmers across India and offers a sustainable alternative to the 25 million inefficient alternating current (AC) and diesel pumps used for agriculture, which draw almost 20% of the electricity generated in the country and pose an environmental pollution challenge.

The smart pump uses STANLEY’s highly efficient brushless direct current (BLDC) motor technology to drive the pump and solar panels to power the entire system. The smart pump has an intelligent controller that enables micro-irrigation, and it incorporates an IOT-based agricultural platform complete with sensors that connect to the cloud and mobile networks, providing real-time data that enables farmers to efficiently monitor system performance and conduct preventive maintenance as needed.

“In 2017, we embarked on a mission to transform the lives of farmers in rural India who rely on agriculture to survive, and the solution we launched last year has already had a dramatic impact,” said Ramana Gogula, Vice President of Clean Technology Innovation at Stanley Black & Decker. “Small farms that could previously only grow vegetables are now harvesting hundreds of kilograms of grain, and with consistent water supply from our solar pumps, farmers across India can grow multiple crops in a year, helping to improve their quality of life and feed many more people.

“We hope to one day equip every farmer in a water-scarce region with this technology to enhance their lives and mitigate the effects of climate change,” Gogula continued.

NADI will be highlighted in the May/June issue of Fast Company’s print magazine, which will go on newsstands Tuesday, May 5. More information on the program can be found here.