Going solar
Off-grid applications
of solar in Bangladesh
can certainly play a
critical role in lowering electricity demand and
lighting up homes in areas unconnected to the grid
At a recent seminar held in the city, experts said that solar pipe light is an efficient and feasible solution for lighting industrial buildings. According to them this technology has huge prospects in factories in Bangladesh as it will avoid use of electricity for daytime lighting, adding value to industrial growth through efficient energy usage. Solar pipe light in one of the simplest and most innovative ways to channel daylight through a reflective hollow pipe into industries to ensure proper illumination without using any electricity. A couple of pilot projects have proved the potential for success of this technology.
We have always stressed the importance of relying more on renewables and especially solar energy. Experts believe that Bangladesh is in a good position to exploit solar power because it is blessed with virtual year-round sunshine. Bangladesh receives a daily average of 46.5 kWh/m2 as solar radiation. Until quite recently utilisation of solar energy has been limited to traditional uses such as farming and fish drying in the open sun. On a positive note solar photovoltaic (PV) is gaining acceptance for providing electricity to households and small businesses in rural areas. The government aims to have 10 percent of its national grid powered by renewable energy by 2020.
Bangladeshs energy mix has come to be dominated by oil and gas. Apart from hydropower the share of other renewable sources of power has been negligible. This has imposed significant burden on the countrys national exchequer. Like other new technologies that are helping us limit the reliance on fossil fuels, solar energy is still costly and will take time to become a household word. But it has immediate benefits to society due to its comparatively quick installation.
Using solar power in different sectors can cut the carbon-footprint of the countrys agriculture and industry and at the same time bolster the countrys role in the war against climate change. Using solar energy to power homes will abet demand reduction for grid electricity, which has been growing exponentially in the last few years. There has been a recent trend among urban residential consumers installing solar panels to augment grid electricity supply. However, this has been quite limited. Off-grid applications of solar in Bangladesh can certainly play a critical role in lowering electricity demand and lighting up homes in areas unconnected to the grid.
