Solar energy is a reliable and clean form of energy and slowly Bangladesh is shifting to using energy. Use of rooftop solar panels is being promoted by the government for home consumption. Lives of rural Bangladeshis is being transformed using solar power. Use of solar panels is beneficial for the environment as it can reduce our dependence on renewable resources. Being a tropical country, Bangladesh receives plenty of sunlight throughout the year to make the shift to solar energy feasible.
The biggest benefit is when the solar panels produce extra electricity the home users can sell the electricity to the national grid line and enjoy a rebate from the total electricity bill. While solar energy is now widely used in urban areas, especially apartment rooftops, rural places are also starting to use solar panels to produce energy. Particularly, isolated places which previously did not have a connection to the grid now have access to electricity thanks to solar power.
Particularly, isolated places which previously did not
have a connection to the grid now have access
to electricity thanks to solar power
In 2003, Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), government institution, introduced a scheme known as solar home systems (SHS) to provide electricity to rural households with no grid access.
The government plans to ensure access to electricity for all citizens of the country by 2021. The programme has been acclaimed as the largest off-grid renewable energy programme in the world. Small-scale solar home systems now provide electricity to more than 4 million households and about 20 million people in rural areas, roughly one-eighth of the country's population.
Undoubtedly, this is a matter of great pride for our country. Despite being a developing nation, Bangladesh’s commitment to generating and using clean energy has set an example for the rest of the world, particularly developed nations.
Climate change is a real threat and despite the majority of the pollution being caused by developed countries; it is countries like Bangladesh which stand to lose the most. In order to reduce the harmful effects of climate change, we must all prove our commitment to using clean energy and reducing our carbon footprint.