The Solar Home System (SHS) program has created the best energy access model in the world with the largest number of over 6 million SHS installed in Bangladesh and benefitting 30 million people of the country, said experts at a session on Thursday.
They said the SHS has covered around 12% of the population of the country and reduces million tons of carbon emissions by replacing kerosene every year.
The virtual session titled “Energy Access & Resilience of Bangladesh: Potentials & Challenges” was organized by Bangladesh Solar & Renewable Energy Association (BSREA) as part of the ongoing South Asia Regional Resilience Hub, COP 26.
BSREA President Dipal C Barua made keynote presentation while Data Magfur, General Secretary, BSREA moderated the session.
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In his presentation Mr. Barua mentioned that the SHS has improved the children’s education and health significantly, the program helps creating income generation, productive uses, creating jobs and women empowerment, replacing kerosene and improvement of the environment.
" Extension of working hours in the rural areas and market places andit really helps to improvethe economic developments and overall quality of lives specially in rural areas of Bangladesh", he dded.
He also said replacing diesel run pumps creating enabling environment for the farmers to produce round the year different vegetables, fruits and different crops including varieties of rice. Reduces the cost of irrigation, reducing burden of foreign exchange for importing Fossil fuel. Moreover, through Grid integration, 50% of energy can be used for irrigation and excess 50% of energy can be transmitted to the National Grid.
The SIP (Solar Irrigation Pump) Program is now gradually replacing 1.3 Million diesel pump for Irrigation, so, it has triple benefit, reduction of million tons of carbon emission every year, greening the grid electricity, improve the food security system and income of farmers, Barua added.
Regarding Solar Rooftop program, he said that it is growing gradually in Bangladesh through Net Metering Policy. As Bangladesh has plenty of sun shine and densely populated country having huge number of buildings, commercial and households are suitable for Solar Rooftop Program.
He further mentioned that other RE Programs like Utility Scale Solar Park, Solar Street Light, Community based Solar Program, Bio-Gas Program, Wind Energy Program, Green Factory are growing significantly.
He cited that Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has announced in COP26 on Monday that Bangladesh has plan to have 40% of the country’s energy from renewable sources by 2041.
Prime Minister also said that Bangladesh has one of the world’s most extensive domestic solar energy programs and we are going to implement the ‘Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan’ – a journey from climate vulnerability to resilience to climate prosperity.
