Due to lack of proper supervision, around 80-90 percent of solar power systems, which were installed by building owners to get grid power connections across the country, are now inactive.
Due to use of low quality solar components and lack of proper supervision, the solar power systems have turned into junk.
It has been alleged that some of the power distribution company officials approved the substandard solar power systems in exchange for bribes. Besides, some building owners set up solar systems as a demo or rented to get electricity managed by these dishonest officials.
In 2014, rooftop solar systems were made mandatory for getting new domestic, industrial and commercial electricity connections from the grid system, to boost the share of renewable energy in the country's total energy mix.
Dhaka Electric Supply Company Limited (DESCO) conducted a survey in Tongi of Gazipur district and found that around 90% of rooftop solar systems there were non-functional.
A DESCO official told Bangladesh Post that they have no instruments to test the solar power components. On inspection, they measure the size of the solar panel to test if its capacity is correct or not, which is a completely unscientific method.
In this modern age, it is also ridiculous. As a result, building owners with unscrupulous businesspersons are using low quality, even old panels to install solar power systems to get electricity. After a few days, it becomes useless.
A DPDC official said in some cases, building owners hired solar power systems for a period to get electricity connection. After getting connections, it was brought back again. Then the owner of the house went to the police station and reported that the panels were stolen from the roof.
Dr Saiful Huque, professor and director of the Institute of Energy under the University of Dhaka, told Bangladesh Post that most of the solar systems have become useless and idle as they were not installed properly. This worse situation would not have arisen if properly supervised.
“Still if good quality solar power systems are installed with proper supervision then the country as well as the individual people will benefit from it. In addition to monitoring, there is also a need for promotion. Besides, it will be more effective if the government provides incentives,” he added.
Mohammad Hossain, director general of Power Cell, said that the government had introduced the rooftop solar system for getting power connection to increase the use of renewable energy as well as consumers benefit across the country. Sadly, people did not take it seriously.
"After that, we have introduced a solar net metering system so that we can ensure proper use of the infrastructure. The system is a billing mechanism that credits solar energy system owners for the electricity they add to the national grid. When solar power is not used by the house owners during holidays or long-term absence at home or for other reasons, the solar electricity can still be sold to the national grid,” Hossain added.