The company also initiated a project under which private investors will set up 69 solar irrigation pumps, each having around eight to ten kilowatt capacity
The Infrastructure Development Company Limited (Idcol) has set a target to install six million solar home systems (SHSs) in the country by 2016, with an investment of $502 million.
The state-owned non-bank financial institution also hopes that if the target of 6 million SHSs is fulfilled, it would generate an additional 150 megawatts of electricity and save around 256,000 tonnes of fossil fuel per year.
“In 2003, an initial target was taken to install 50,000 SHSs over a period of 5 years. Currently, more than 30,000 SHSs are being set up every month,” Mahmood Malik, executive director and chief executive officer of Idcol, told the Dhaka Tribune.
The SHSs provide the basic electricity demands of the rural people, who otherwise had to depend on kerosene lamps for lighting. By December 2013, Idcol had already set up 2.7 million SHSs in the country which now generates more than 110 megawatts of electricity.
Earlier, Idcol adopted projects to install 1,500 solar-powered irrigation pumps and 50 mini-grid projects across the country by 2016, aiming to reduce the country’s dependency on diesel-run irrigation pumps and to provide electricity to rural areas.
Through some selected non-governmental organisation and private entities, known as partner organisations, 19 solar-powered irrigation pumps have already been installed in Shapahar of Naogaon, Fatikchari of Chittagong, Bogra, Dinajpur, Jhenaidah, Kushtia, Thakurgaon, Panchagar and Dhaka.
The company also initiated a project under which private investors will set up 69 solar irrigation pumps, each having around eight to ten kilowatt capacity. These solar pumps are capable of lifting 400,000-500,000 litres of water per day.
Under its plans to set up 50 solar mini-grid power plants in the country, Idcol has already installed one at Sandwip of Chittagong, while three others are to be installed at Kutubdia of Cox’s Bazar, Bagha of Rajshahi and Raipura of Narsingdi.
Source: Dhaka Tribune
