The Infrastructure Development Company (IDCOL) which is a state owned non-bank financial institutions is set to add three million more homes to solar power supply system by 22017 over the three million homes it has so far lighted over the past decade.
The country will thus have six million homes under solar home system (SHS) in next three years time, IDCOL officials said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina opened the SHS Green Energy Expo organized by IDCOL in the city’s at Sonargaon Hotel last week to bring boost to the ongoing programme. It had a total of 50 stalls including 47 national and three international participants, the organizers said.
IDCOL started financing SHSs in January 2003 with support from the World Bank and Global Environment Facility. The initial target was to finance bringing 50,000 homes under the solar system by June 2008. But the target was achieved three years ahead of schedule and with $2 million less than the projected cost.
Following the success of the programme, ADB, KfW, GIZ, IDB, GPOBA, USAID, DFID and Jica started supporting the rapid expansion of the programme. IDCOL’s SHS programme in Bangladesh is now considered the largest off-grid renewable energy programme in the world.
The three million homes fitted with solar system are currently generating 135 megawatts of electricity in the off-grid areas where electricity may be able to reach in the near future, IDCOL sources said.
As a result, more than 15 million people are benefiting from solar electricity for Lighting their homes and switching TVs, charging mobile phones and other low load appliances.
The company provides grants and soft loans to village people through its 47 partner organisations, which has made the system affordable for the customers. At present, more than 60,000 SHSs are being installed each month under the programme, according to IDCOL.
Source: Weekly Holiday