IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/renene/v36y2011i2p772-778.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Technical appraisal of solar home systems in Bangladesh: A field investigation

Author

Listed:
  • Chowdhury, Shahriar A.
  • Mourshed, Monjur
  • Kabir, S.M. Raiyan
  • Islam, Moududul
  • Morshed, Tanvir
  • Khan, M. Rezwan
  • Patwary, Mohammad N.

Abstract

Solar Home System (SHS) based rural electrification has experienced a considerable growth in Bangladesh since the start of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Project (REREDP) in 2003. The initial target of 50,000 SHS installations in off-grid areas was achieved within 2.5 years, 3 years ahead of schedule. After achieving a revised target of 200,000 SHSs, ahead of schedule in early 2009, a new target of 1 million SHS installations by 2012 was set. The installation of about 0.5 million systems by March 2010 indicates that the current target may well be achieved before the deadline. The size of the SHS market and its impact on the regeneration of the rural economy make it necessary to investigate the quality and reliability of the installed SHSs, if the continued success of the initiative is to be maintained. This paper reports on the findings from a field-based technical appraisal of SHS installations in Bangladesh. Sixty geographically dispersed installation sites were visited. Physical characteristics of the SHSs and their system components were tested to ascertain compliance with and deviations from the approved specifications. Despite the overwhelming success of the REREDP project, the study revealed various shortcomings. Notable among these are: incompatible and sub-optimal component configurations, faulty installations and a lack of effective quality assurance mechanism. The findings are contextualized and the ways to address the identified shortcomings are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Chowdhury, Shahriar A. & Mourshed, Monjur & Kabir, S.M. Raiyan & Islam, Moududul & Morshed, Tanvir & Khan, M. Rezwan & Patwary, Mohammad N., 2011. "Technical appraisal of solar home systems in Bangladesh: A field investigation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(2), pages 772-778.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:2:p:772-778
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2010.07.027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960148110003514
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.renene.2010.07.027?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Rofiqul Islam, M. & Rabiul Islam, M. & Rafiqul Alam Beg, M., 2008. "Renewable energy resources and technologies practice in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 12(2), pages 299-343, February.
    2. Islam, A.K.M. Sadrul & Islam, Mazharul & Rahman, Tazmilur, 2006. "Effective renewable energy activities in Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(5), pages 677-688.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Khan, Tahsina & Khanam, Shamsun Nahar & Rahman, Md Habibur & Rahman, Syed Mahbubur, 2019. "Determinants of microfinance facility for installing solar home system (SHS) in rural Bangladesh," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 299-308.
    2. Judith A. Cherni & Raúl Olalde Font & Lucía Serrano & Felipe Henao & Antonio Urbina, 2016. "Systematic Assessment of Carbon Emissions from Renewable Energy Access to Improve Rural Livelihoods," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-19, December.
    3. Bhattacharyya, Subhes C., 2015. "Mini-grid based electrification in Bangladesh: Technical configuration and business analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 745-761.
    4. Abdul Hasib Siddique & Mehedi Hasan & Sharnali Islam & Khalid Rashid, 2021. "Prospective Smart Distribution Substation in Bangladesh: Modeling and Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-20, September.
    5. Md. Abdullah-Al-Mahbub & Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam & Hussein Almohamad & Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi & Motrih Al-Mutiry & Hazem Ghassan Abdo, 2022. "Different Forms of Solar Energy Progress: The Fast-Growing Eco-Friendly Energy Source in Bangladesh for a Sustainable Future," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
    6. Mourshed, Monjur, 2011. "The impact of the projected changes in temperature on heating and cooling requirements in buildings in Dhaka, Bangladesh," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(11), pages 3737-3746.
    7. Elizabeth Baldwin & Jennifer N. Brass & Sanya Carley & Lauren M. MacLean, 2015. "Electrification and rural development: issues of scale in distributed generation," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(2), pages 196-211, March.
    8. Chowdhury, Shahriar Ahmed & Mourshed, Monjur, 2016. "Off-grid electrification with solar home systems: An appraisal of the quality of components," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 585-598.
    9. Abdul Hasib Siddique & Sumaiya Tasnim & Fahim Shahriyar & Mehedi Hasan & Khalid Rashid, 2021. "Renewable Energy Sector in Bangladesh: The Current Scenario, Challenges and the Role of IoT in Building a Smart Distribution Grid," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-24, August.
    10. Girardeau, Hannah & Pattanayak, Subhrendu K., 2018. "Household Solar Adoption in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Systematic Review," EfD Discussion Paper 18-10, Environment for Development, University of Gothenburg.
    11. Ahammed, Faisal & Azeem, Abdullahil, 2013. "Selection of the most appropriate package of Solar Home System using Analytic Hierarchy Process model in rural areas of Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 6-11.
    12. Carrasco, L.M. & Narvarte, L. & Lorenzo, E., 2013. "Operational costs of A 13,000 solar home systems rural electrification programme," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 1-7.
    13. Werulkar, Ashutosh Sudhirrao & Kulkarni, Prakash S., 2015. "A case study of residential solar photovoltaic system with utility backup in Nagpur, India," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 52(C), pages 1809-1822.
    14. Jaybee Lacea & Edward Querikiol & Evelyn Taboada, 2021. "Balancing Energy Trilemma Using Hybrid Distributed Rooftop Solar PV (DRSP)/Battery/Diesel Microgrid: A Case Study in Gilutongan Island, Cordova, Cebu, Philippines," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-32, November.
    15. Jashim Uddin Ahmed & Niza Talukder & Asma Ahmed, 2020. "Infrastructure Development Company Limited Solar Home System Program: A Sustainable Solution for Energizing Rural Bangladesh," South Asian Journal of Business and Management Cases, , vol. 9(2), pages 219-236, August.
    16. Rahman, Syed M. & Ahmad, Mokbul M., 2013. "Solar Home System (SHS) in rural Bangladesh: Ornamentation or fact of development?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 348-354.
    17. Roche, O.M. & Blanchard, R.E., 2018. "Design of a solar energy centre for providing lighting and income-generating activities for off-grid rural communities in Kenya," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 685-694.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wadud, Zia & Dey, Himadri S. & Kabir, Md. Ashfanoor & Khan, Shahidul I., 2011. "Modeling and forecasting natural gas demand in Bangladesh," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(11), pages 7372-7380.
    2. Zheng, Y.H. & Li, Z.F. & Feng, S.F. & Lucas, M. & Wu, G.L. & Li, Y. & Li, C.H. & Jiang, G.M., 2010. "Biomass energy utilization in rural areas may contribute to alleviating energy crisis and global warming: A case study in a typical agro-village of Shandong, China," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 3132-3139, December.
    3. Md. Abdullah-Al-Mahbub & Abu Reza Md. Towfiqul Islam & Hussein Almohamad & Ahmed Abdullah Al Dughairi & Motrih Al-Mutiry & Hazem Ghassan Abdo, 2022. "Different Forms of Solar Energy Progress: The Fast-Growing Eco-Friendly Energy Source in Bangladesh for a Sustainable Future," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-28, September.
    4. Islam, Md. Tasbirul & Shahir, S.A. & Uddin, T.M. Iftakhar & Saifullah, A.Z.A, 2014. "Current energy scenario and future prospect of renewable energy in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 1074-1088.
    5. Islam, Aminul & Chan, Eng-Seng & Taufiq-Yap, Yun Hin & Mondal, Md. Alam Hossain & Moniruzzaman, M. & Mridha, Moniruzzaman, 2014. "Energy security in Bangladesh perspective—An assessment and implication," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 32(C), pages 154-171.
    6. Alam Hossain Mondal, Md. & Kamp, Linda M. & Pachova, Nevelina I., 2010. "Drivers, barriers, and strategies for implementation of renewable energy technologies in rural areas in Bangladesh--An innovation system analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(8), pages 4626-4634, August.
    7. Khan, Ershad Ullah & Martin, Andrew R., 2015. "Optimization of hybrid renewable energy polygeneration system with membrane distillation for rural households in Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 93(P1), pages 1116-1127.
    8. Hasan, Md. Yeasir & Monir, Minhaj Uddin & Ahmed, Mohammad Tofayal & Aziz, Azrina Abd & Shovon, Shaik Muntasir & Ahamed Akash, Faysal & Hossain Khan, Mohammad Forrukh & Faruque, Md. Jamal & Islam Rifat, 2022. "Sustainable energy sources in Bangladesh: A review on present and future prospect," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    9. Mollik, Sazib & Rashid, M.M. & Hasanuzzaman, M. & Karim, M.E. & Hosenuzzaman, M., 2016. "Prospects, progress, policies, and effects of rural electrification in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 553-567.
    10. Ni, Ji-Qin, 2024. "A review of household and industrial anaerobic digestion in Asia: Biogas development and safety incidents," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    11. Huda, A.S.N. & Mekhilef, S. & Ahsan, A., 2014. "Biomass energy in Bangladesh: Current status and prospects," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 30(C), pages 504-517.
    12. Komatsu, Satoru & Kaneko, Shinji & Ghosh, Partha Pratim & Morinaga, Akane, 2013. "Determinants of user satisfaction with solar home systems in rural Bangladesh," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 52-58.
    13. Ahmed, Shamsuddin & Islam, Md Tasbirul & Karim, Mohd Aminul & Karim, Nissar Mohammad, 2014. "Exploitation of renewable energy for sustainable development and overcoming power crisis in Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 223-235.
    14. Motasemi, F. & Afzal, Muhammad T., 2013. "A review on the microwave-assisted pyrolysis technique," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 317-330.
    15. Jha, Sunil Kr. & Bilalovic, Jasmin & Jha, Anju & Patel, Nilesh & Zhang, Han, 2017. "Renewable energy: Present research and future scope of Artificial Intelligence," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 297-317.
    16. Halder, P.K., 2016. "Potential and economic feasibility of solar home systems implementation in Bangladesh," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 568-576.
    17. Nasima BAGUM & Abul Anam RASHED & A. K. M. MASUD & Quamrul ISLAM, 2012. "Using Multi-Criteria Analysis In Decision Making Regarding The Adoption Of Wind Pump For Irrigation In Bangladesh," Review of General Management, Spiru Haret University, Faculty of Management Brasov, vol. 15(1), pages 157-178, Mai.
    18. Jahangir Alam, Mohammad & Ara Begum, Ismat & Buysse, Jeroen & Van Huylenbroeck, Guido, 2012. "Energy consumption, carbon emissions and economic growth nexus in Bangladesh: Cointegration and dynamic causality analysis," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 217-225.
    19. Marion Allet & Marek Hudon, 2015. "Green Microfinance: Characteristics of Microfinance Institutions Involved in Environmental Management," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 126(3), pages 395-414, February.
    20. Avri Eitan & Gillad Rosen & Lior Herman & Itay Fishhendler, 2020. "Renewable Energy Entrepreneurs: A Conceptual Framework," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-23, May.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:36:y:2011:i:2:p:772-778. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/renewable-energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.