Carsten studied electrical engineering in Germany and has been living in Auroville since 1993. He founded Auroville Energy Products, a business unit of Auroville in 1996 for designing and assembling solar energy components and wind energy systemsin Auroville. As a renewable energy consultant, he has installed solar home lighting systems, micro hydro systems for rural electrification in Asia and Africa. He has recently been conducting workshops for solar energy technicians in Ethiopia, Indonesia,Nepal and training teachers in Bangladeshi University BUET. He is currently developing a solar powered tram for Auroville.