Solar Home Systems in Bangladesh

Abstract

Access to electricity is an important part of the Sustainable Energy for All (SE4ALL) initiative under the United Nations. Globally about 1.2 billion of people are deprived of electricity, mostly concentrated in rural areas of developing countries including Bangladesh. About two-thirds of the rural population in Bangladesh are yet to enjoy this basic utility. Grid-based electricity is challenging for various reasons including technical, and commercial issues. Development partners including the World Bank started a formal approach for promoting renewable energy and more than 3 million solar home systems have been installed in the off-grid areas of Bangladesh. By replacing kerosene, solar energy has not only facilitated people with an option of a much greater quantity of far-higher quality of lighting, at a lower cost, it has reduced the safety and health risks associated with kerosene, particularly among women and young children. However, considering that only about 10% of people in off-grid areas have adopted solar systems to date, the remaining potential for carbon emission reduction and adaptation is large. In Bangladesh, solar systems are a proven renewable energy technology in dealing with climate change and enhancing socio-economic development. However, there are some remaining technical, commercial and attitudinal constraints which need to be addressed to ensure sustainable development.

Maliha Muzammil, Environmental Change Institute, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QY, United Kingdom, Corresponding Author, e-mail: maliha.muzammil@ouce.ox.ac.uk.

Raihan Uddin Ahmed, Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), UTC Building, 16th Floor, 8 Panthapath, Kawran Bazar, Dhaka-1215, Bangladesh.