Projects
Welcome to the Projects page of Morsel Research and Development Pvt Ltd. Here, you can explore our diverse range of research and development projects, each designed to provide innovative solutions and insights. From large-scale surveys to targeted market studies, our projects demonstrate our commitment to excellence, data-driven decision-making, and impactful results. Discover how we bring research to life and drive meaningful change.
A Frugal Innovation Approach to Dynamic Electricity Pricing in Rural India
Semee Yoon (Assistant Professor from Yonsei University ) , Sini Numminen (Department of Applied Physic from Aalto University ) , Peter Lund (Professor from Aalto University ) , and Johannes Urpelainen ( Professor from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies )
This experiment tests the applicability of a “frugal innovation” approach to dynamic pricing. The experiment will be conducted as a collaboration between Aalto University, Columbia University and Boond which is a social enterprise. The goal is to conduct a rigorous randomized controlled trial on the…
Location: Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh
Read More
Social Learning, Gender, and Willingness to Pay for Solar Lanterns
Johannes Urpelainen (Professor from University of Gothenburg ) , Yonas Alem (Professor from University of Gothenburg ) , and Eugenie Dugoua (Assistant Professor from Columbia University )
In this field experiment, researchers tried to find out the impact of Social Learning on the willingness to pay for a solar lantern on families in rural areas of India among both the genders. Under the supervision of Johannes Urpelainen, Yonas Alem a…
Location: Gonda district of Uttar Pradesh
Read More
Solar Products for Poor Rural Communities as a Business
Semee Yoon (Assistant Professor from Yonsei University ) , and Johannes Urpelainen (Professor from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies )
Can sales of solar products and services be a commercially viable business in poor rural communities? Although enthusiasm for off-grid electrification among researchers and practitioners is widespread, the determinants of commercial success in this domain remain poorly understood. In collaboration…
Location: Unnao Uttar Pradesh
Read More
Climate Change: Challenges Facing India’s Poor
E. Somanathan (Professor from Indian Statistical Institute ) , and Rohini Somanathan (Professor)
In this project, we came across many climatic tit-bits. As flood is the main cause of climatic change and everybody knows about the flood in Kosi River at Bihar during August-September 2008. Researchers studied the flood-affected areas in Bihar (A…
Location: Bihar
Read More
Willingness to Pay for Solar Lanterns: Does the Trial Period Play a Role?
Semee Yoon ( from Yonsei University ) , and Johannes Urpelainen (Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment from University of British Columbia )
Where electricity access is limited, solar lanterns are a viable and relatively inexpensive source of basic lighting for households. However, the creation of commercially viable business models for solar lanterns is difficult because the customers are poor and make decisions…
Location: Unnao Uttar Pradesh
Read More
Increasing Household Electrification Rates in rural Uttar Pradesh with Connection Campaigns
Brian Blankenship ( from Brian Blankenship ) , Ryan Kennedy (Associate Professor from University of Houston ) , Johannes Urpelainen (Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies ) , and Jason Chun (Assistant Professor from London School of Economics )
In this study, researchers were interested in testing whether an intervention to encourage households to set up legal electricity connections can make an impact on the total number of rural households with access to electricity. Morsel surveyed 10 households in…
Location: Bihar
Read More
Solar power for street vendors? Problems with centralized charging stations in urban markets
David Szakonyia (associate professor from George Washington University ) , and Johannes Urpelainen (Professor from Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies )
While energy poverty is a particularly large problem in rural areas, rapid urbanization in developing countries is also raising concerns about energy access in urban areas. How can policymakers improve energy access for the urban poor? Researchers addressed this question…
Location: Bihar
Read More
Suryodaya: An experiment in Karnataka
Michael Machala ( from Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment ) , Andrey Poletayev ( from Stanford University ) , Rushil Prakash ( from Stanford School of Earth, Energy, and Environment, ) , and Prof. Sally Benson ( from Precourt Institute for Energy )
Researchers developed and are deploying a new high-performance and affordable solar drying system for chili farmers in India. Traditional open-sun drying takes 2-3 weeks, leading to degradation of chili quality and loss of marketable chilies. Commercially available heat pump dryers…
Location: karnataka
Read More
A Study on Consumer Preferences for Solar Off-Grid Products
Richa Goyal ( from Schatz Energy Research Center ) , and Dr. Arne Jacobson ( from Humboldt State University )
Schatz Energy Research Center Supported by the Lighting Asia/India Program, International Finance Corporation IFC Schatz Energy Research Center ( SERC ) at Humboldt State University in the United States is implementing a consumer preferences study that is supported by the Lighting Asia/India Program, IFC. In the past…
Read More
Can Solar Light Change The Rural Life: An Experiment In Uttar Pradesh
Johannes Urpelainen (Professor from Columbia University, New York University ) , and University of Washington
In this randomized controlled trial, researchers from Columbia University, New York University, and the University of Washington, St. Louis, evaluated the impact of Mera Gao Power‘s solar microgrids. In the Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, 100 habitations were surveyed for a variety of socio-economic indicators.…
Location: Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh
Read More
Rural Electrification In India: Customer Behaviour And Demand
Shalu Agrawal (Research Associate from Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy, ) , Nidhi Bali (Program Manager from Smart Power India, Dr. Johannes Urpelainen ) , and Dr. Johannes Urpelainen (Founding Director, from Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy )
This study is a collaboration between Smart Power India (SPI), a subsidiary of the Rockefeller Foundation and the Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP), at the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies. The report distils learnings on electricity access and customer demand. One of the unique…
Location: Odisha , Rajasthan , Uttar Pradesh and Bihar
Read More
Livelihoods, migration and regeneration of forests in central India
Ruth DeFries (Professor) , Johannes Urpelainen (Professor) , and NASA
Forests provide timber, fuelwood, fodder, non-timber forest products and a range of ecosystem services that support livelihoods for millions of people. As people migrate to cities for seasonal employment, their dependence on forest resources is likely to change. Moreover, afforestation…
Read More