Solar Energy Programme

Demonstration of Centralized Solar (AC) Power generation system for Rural Market Place in Bangladesh ( UNDP supported)

For the first time in Bangladesh, solar PV powered rural market at Gangutia under Shoilkupa Upazila in Jhenaidah district in Bangladesh. The objective of this scheme is to install a demonstrative plant of a centralized solar photovoltaic system for electrification of a rural market in the off-grid area and to assess its technical and economic viability in the context of rural Bangladesh. Gangutia Growth Centre has been selected for solar electrification because of its remote location particularly when the nearest grid extension is around 7 kilometers apart. The system has the capacity to produce 1.8 KW power with daily consumption of 2000 watt-hours, providing electricity to 45 shops, 3 food processing small industries, one health centre and one bazaar mosque.

The successful installation of solar market electrification has created great enthusiasm among the local villagers and it will act as a milestone for green energy movement in the country.

Cell Phone charging with solar Electricity

Tailoring with Solar Light

Merchandizing in evening with solar light

Picture : Income generation activities at Gangutia Bazar, Shoilkupa, Jhenaidah, Bangladesh

Merchandizing in evening with solar light

Project aim talking account into consideration the sustainability and efficiency of the project :

Growth Centers are considered as the nuclei of rural economy. Based on the revenue income from the rural markets and socio-economic development activities the planning commission of Bangladesh has identified 2100 rural markets as Growth Centers. But it is ironical that a large number of rural markets are located in the off-grid areas. Bangladesh is an agriculture based country. People in the rural area grow agricultural commodity in the field by engaging their hard labour from dawn to dusk. At the evening they go to the rural market to sell their products. Again farmers from nearby 10-15 villages gather in the Growth Center to sell their own commodities and handicrafts. On the other hand merchants from towns and large cities also gathered in the Growth Center to buy those commodities. Ultimately these products and goods are distributed within the country through feeder road network.

Business hour in these Growth Center normally starts from the evening but due to non-availability of electricity most of them closes just after sunset. Only day time marketing system has a negative impact to the daily laborers and farmers who have to sacrifice a certain portion of their working hours for shopping or marketing their products. Moreover people feel insecure after the dusk therefore socio economic development as well as marketing of agricultural products is hampered in the off-grid area Growth Centers.

Therefore in order to boost up rural economy and benefit to the growers and merchants UNDP trough its Sustainable Environment Management Programme (SEMP) has taken Growth Center electrification project by solar photovoltaic. Main objective of this project was to install a demonstrative power unit of a centralized solar photovoltaic system for electrification of a rural market in the off-grid area and to assess its technical and economic viability in the context of rural Bangladesh. Gangutia Growth Center has been selected because of its remote location and the nearby power grid is about seven kilometers distance. The system has the capacity of 1.8 KWp which provides electricity to 45 shops, 3 food processing and small industries and one community center. This project has increased commercial activities of the market by four hours after the dusk. The responsibility of operation and maintenance has been entrusted with the market management committee. This project was completed in the year 2000.

This milestone project has created positive socio-economic impact and great enthusiasm among the local villagers, farmers, merchants and as well as tourists. On the other hand lease value of this Growth Center has been increased by 65% and farmer’s income has increased by about 45%. Furthermore security in the market area has been improved remarkably. Different cultural activities and adult education normally takes places in the community center. People also benefited from watching National TV and radio programmes and it improves their social awareness significantly. Even that percentage of female education has increased to 75%. Moreover huge demand of solar photovoltaic has been created in the nearby villages.

The objective of this scheme is to install a demonstrate plant of a Growth Centre electrification by Solar Photovoltaic system in the off-grid area and to assess its technical and economical viability in context of rural Bangladesh.

The project was carried out by the growth center to improve the living conditions of the living people. The area of growth was completely without electricity which leaves the people in darkness and unable to engage to in income generating activities that require power which could change the life style. Given its low cost and environmental friendliness, solar PV power was appeared to be an appropriate option for the electrification of that rural area where access to other energy systems was difficult.

People suddenly accessed to lighting and electricity that helped them with a range of daily tasks relating to both work and pleasure. As a result, living standards improved significantly, so much so that nearby communities wanted to enjoy the same benefits. People can the watch the television national programme after the installation the project.

The summarized project aims are

To provide electricity to shop, rice processing industry, community center
Enhancing the quality of life
Increasing the daily activities
Making the scope of work
Poverty alleviation
Developing economic condition and social activity.

Innovative aspects of the project taking into account the technological standards and the circumstances in the region :

Indeed Solar electrification of rural market is an innovative solution to provide electricity in rural growth centre. There are increasing numbers of rural off-grids markets being electrified by diesel powered generators having a detrimental impact on the rural environment. This stand-alone system uses sunlight for generating electricity .There is an opportunity to explore technological possibility for Growth Center electrification by Solar Photovoltaic system since load distribution in a rural market is not dispersed. Photovoltaic system is very easy to install and can replace and other place and require little maintenance and completely serviceable. The market committee will be responsible for operation and Maintenance. In situation where electricity is either unreliable or inaccessible, this Centralized AC system can serve to community households efficiently and cost-effectively.

cost / benefit- description of economic and social aspect :

This milestone project Growth Center Electrification by solar Photovoltaic has created positive socio-economic impact and great enthusiasm among the local villagers, farmers, merchants and as well as tourists. On the other hand lease value of this Growth Center has been increased by 65% and farmer’s income has increased by about 45%. Furthermore security in the market area has been improved remarkably. Different cultural activities and adult education normally takes places in the community center. People also benefited from watching National TV and radio programmes and it improves their social awareness significantly. Even that percentage of female education has increased to 75%. Moreover huge demand of solar photovoltaic has been created in the nearby villages.

Beneficiary contribution was about 30% in terms of land value for the mini power unit. Each consumer is paying BDT 4.00 per day that is adequate enough to support major maintenance requirement like replacement of CFL lamp and Battery at regular intervals. The successful installation of Growth Centre electrification by Solar Photovoltaic has created great enthusiasm among the local villager and it will act as a milestone for green energy movement in the Country.

Replication potential of the project. Possible effects on the market :

The growth rate of current pace of grid electrification in Bangladesh is slower and large proportions of populations still in off-grid. Decentralized power generation options also encourages form government end and private entrepreneurs are already operating in power sector of Bangladesh. On the other hand local manufactures producing good quality of hardwires which creates good market potentials of renewable energy technology and mainstreaming of the technology as well.

Record of the previous survey of the Growth Center found that using diesel generator polluted environment and most of the people can not excess electricity because of its short time operation (1-2 hours) and pay every bulb BDT 6 per day.

Replace the Diesel generator by solar Photovoltaic created positive socio-economic impact and great enthusiasm among the local villagers, farmers, and small interplant etc. The lease value of this Growth Center has increased 65%, farmer’s income increased by 45%. Different cultural activities and adult education normally takes places in the community center. People also watching TV and radio programs and improve their social awareness significantly. Even that percentage of female education has increased to 75%. Moreover huge demand of solar photovoltaic has been created in the nearby village.

It creates tremendous enthusiasm about solar energy technology. The successful demonstration of solar energy technology to remote and end users level creates good potentials of replicating the project. In this aspect some key indicators has taken into account the find the replication potentials and future mainstreaming of renewable energy based decentralized power generation system in remote off-grid areas through our intervention;

Solar Energy Programme (UNDP Supported )

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