— Solar energy is one of the most popular form of renewable energy. The use of solar panel is increasing rapidly all over the world. Fortunately, the location of Bangladesh is quite suitable for harnessing solar energy. However, large area is still uncovered either by grid electricity or by electricity generated from renewable sources. In the off grid areas of Bangladesh, solar home system (SHS) is getting popular day by day due to its declining price and due to favourable financial packages offered through Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (ID-COL).Around 50,000 SHS are being installed every month under IDCOL program only.[1]. Already IDCOL has achieved a target of installing two million SHS by March 2013. With the gradual increase of per capita income and GDP growth, people are more inclined to lead a better life by having electricity in their homes at a higher price than that of grid electricity. However, there are some challenges that need to be mitigated to make the SHS viable and cost effective in future. In this paper, a study has been made to assess the challenges faced by the SHS users in a remote village in the district of Madaripur, Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to observe the present condition of the SHS and the degree of satisfaction enjoyed by the customers of SHS. It has been found that the satisfaction level of the people is not that encouraging due to low back up time (highest for three hours) in the evening and also high cost involved in the replacement of batteries. The paper focuses the problems faced by the SHS users and suggests some alternative solutions to provide electricity to the users for a longer period of time throughout day & night. The socio economic benefit that can be derived by providing electricity for a longer period of time is immense. The major constraint of SHS has been highlighted first and then min grid/ micro-grid type generation system has been proposed to provide un-interruptible electricity at a lesser cost.

Power is one of the most important factors in developing the economy and the standard of living of a country. Like the rest of the countries of the world, in Bangladesh the demand for power is increasing day by day. To fulfill our future power demands, Solar Home System (SHS) seems to be the only feasible form of renewable energy despite the cloudy climate in Bangladesh. The objective of the study was to observe the present conditions of the SHS, the degree of satisfaction experienced by the users of SHS, finding the prospects and constraints as well as contributing in the field of solar energy through presenting and highlighting important principles of solar energy. Our study revealed the users’ satisfaction level to be not that encouraging due to low back-up time, high cost and increased interest rate. If these hindrances are overcome then this would show positive proliferation in the energy sector of Bangladesh.

Global fossil fuel reserves are declining due to differential uses, especially for power generation. Everybody can help to do their bit for the environment by using solar energy. Geographically, Bangladesh is a potential zone for harnessing solar energy. In March 2021, the renewable generation capacity in Bangladesh amounted to 722.592 MW, including 67.6% from solar, 31.84% from hydro, and 0.55% from other energy sources, including wind, biogas, and biomass, where 488.662 MW of power originated from over 6 million installed solar power systems. Concurrently, over 42% of rural people still suffer from a lack of electricity, where solar energy can play a vital role. This paper highlights the present status of various forms of solar energy progress in Bangladesh, such as solar parks, solar rooftops, solar irrigation, solar charging stations, solar home systems, solar-powered telecoms, solar street lights, and solar drinking water, which can be viable alternative sources of energy. This...

Bangladesh is a developing country with full courage to be developed by 2021 and celebrate its Golden Jubilee of liberation as a Digital Bangladesh. But the main factor of development, electricity has not met with the daily demand yet. Nearly 72% of the population lives in rural areas and still many areas have not covered by national grid. Alternative source of electricity must be developed to meet the vision 2021. This paper focuses on how much the country achieved to establish Solar Photovoltaic Energy as alternative clean energy which can help reduce poverty, energy shortage and environmental degradation at remote settlements of Bangladesh. The future plans to mitigate the rising demand of electricity especially in remote areas considering the environment has also presented here. The basic applied forms of solar PV in rural Bangladesh are solar home system (SHS) and micro utility (electrification of rural markets, small and cottage industries). Feedback from the users of these sy...

Energy is not the ultimate demand of world but cost-effective and eco-friendly energy is the demand of world. But it is tough task to look for safe and cost effective power source. Today’s world has marked solar energy as one of the prime source of energy which can help to fulfill the demand of energy as per demand if it can be used properly. Solar energy is used either in direct or indirect form as sun is the source of all kind of energy. Bangladesh being in the subtropical region solar energy is more suitable source than other power sources. In Bangladesh solar energy is not used in large scale but gradually use of solar energy is increasing. Reports says that Bangladesh's installed electric generation capacity was 10289 MW in January, 2014 out of which only 15 MW is generated by solar energy and used in rural households which is less than .01% of the total electricity generation. But Bangladesh receives an average daily solar radiation of 4-6.5 kWh/m2. Now comes the point how and where this solar energy can be used. Solar power can be used in irrigation system, LED Street lighting across 5000 kms streets, even in human driven rickshaws. Thus solar energy can be the best alternative of other power sources. Considering all facts of power production available new technologies and application of solar power with storage facility, probable capacity, cost per unit power, efficiency, suitability for Bangladesh discussed here in this paper so that solar energy can be considered as one major source of electricity of Bangladesh by applying new technology for the best use of solar energy in Bangladesh to eliminate energy crisis.