ISSN (Print) : 2320 – 3765

ISSN (Online): 2278 – 8875

International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,

Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2014

RECENT STATUS OF SOLAR ENERGY IN

BANGLADESH
Asif Hassan1, Nasif Mahmud2, Md Shamiur Rahman3, Fayek Tasneem Khan4, Md. Imtiazul Haque5
Student, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh1
Student, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh2
Student, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh3
Student, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh4
Student, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Islamic University of Technology, Gazipur, Bangladesh5

ABSTRACT: Bangladesh is on the verge of facing energy crisis. According to the article 16.1 of Bangladesh
Constitution fifty five percent of Bangladesh's inhabitants live without electricity, and the grid expansion rate to
connect rural areas is threatened by the looming capacity shortage. By acknowledging the potential of renewable
energy technologies (RETs) and associated energy storage, Bangladesh could possibly meet its unprecedented energy
demand, thus increasing electricity accessibility for all and as well as financial growth. This paper will represent the
role of solar energy in Bangladesh to overcome energy crisis.

Keywords: Bangladesh, Renewable energy sources, Solar home system (SHS), Solar PV.

I. INTRODUCTION
Energy BANGLADESH lies between 20034' and 26038' North Latitude and 88001' and 92041' East Longitude with
a total landmass of 1,47,570 square kilometers (56,977 Sq. miles). Bangladesh is surrounded by India on the West,
North and Northeast, Myanmar on the Southeast and the Bay of Bengal on the South. Bangladesh has a strategic
location and acts as bridge between South Asia and Southeast Asia. The Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics conducted a
population census survey in the country on January 23 to 27, 2001. The population of the country stood at 124.35
million in 2001. The percentage of urban population was 23.52 while that of rural 76.47. Assuming medium variant of
declining fertility and mortality the country is expected to reach a population of 145.46 million by 2011 A.D (Statistical
Yearbook of Bangladesh 2008, BBS).

The solar constant (1.360 kW/m2) is the rate at which solar energy is received per unit area of the earth’s atmosphere.
Because the cross-sectional area and the total surface area of the earth differ by a factor of 4, the average flux incident
on the earth is one –fourth the solar constant, or 0.340 kW/m2. Of the atmosphere incoming, 49% is absorbed and
rerediatated by the atmosphere. In bangladesh the average is 0.193kW/m2[1].

II. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES

Using energy from sources which cannot be used up – sun, wind, water and waves – supports sustainable
development by reducing carbon emissions. This contributes to increasing energy and climate security for many
communities across the world. Renewable energy comes from sources which cannot be used up, such as wind, sun,
water and waves, rather than from fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal.

Renewable Energy Sources are: Wind, biomass, solar, hydroelectric, geothermal, wave and tidal.Among all of them
wind is the most expanding worldwide. But due to the geological condition of Bangladesh solar is most suitable
renewable energysource.

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 ISSN (Print) : 2320 – 3765
ISSN (Online): 2278 – 8875

International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,

Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2014

III. IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLAR ENERGY

TABLE I. MAJOR PROMOTERS OF SHS IN BANGLADESH

Grameen One of the largest and fastest growing rural based renewable energy companies in the world; Installed about
Shakti 250,000 SHSs.
LGED Demonstrates diversified applications of renewable energy technologies and contributes in capacity
building; Installed 600 SHSs.
REB Installed 806 SHSs in 1996-97 two riverine islands, generating 62 kWp powers; Installed about 12,000 SHSs
in remote rural areas.
BPDB Implemented projects of wind, solar and small hydro at remote locations where grid electricity could not be
reached; Installed solar household system of total 54 kWp in off grid rural area.

IV. USE OF SOLAR PV IN BANGLADESH

Solar PV installation rates in Bangladesh are increasing rapidly. By July 2009, 25 MW of solar PV had been
installed in the forms of Solar Home Systems, Centralized (AC) Systems, Centralized (AC) market electrification and
roof top PV mini-grid system to pump water, for railway signaling, to power refrigerators, etc. Much of this is being
driven by investment through donor agencies or international aid agencies. The current aim is that by 2012 one million
households will be powered form solar PV panel, producing 50 MW of power [2]. However, the World Bank notes
that the market for SHS may become saturated before the 1 million target is reached due to their relative upfront
expense, and the risk that consumer confidence in the technology may fall as current SHS equipment wears out, and
requires greater maintenance [3].

Typically systems are sold in the range of 20-150 Wp and are coupled with an energy storage system consisting of
batteries. Prices range from 15k to 79k Taka respectively. Main players are the Infrastructure Development Company
Ltd which had installed more than 400,000 systems by October 2009, Grameen Shakti which had installed more than
283,000 systems by October 2009 and Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee. Grameen Shakti aims to install
more than 1 million systems by 2015, and a further 1 million biogas plants, and 10 million improved cooking stoves.

Manufacturers typically provide the peak power of their solar panels which is calculated under Standard Testing
Conditions (STC) which is equivalent to 1000 W/m2 at 25oC and is primarily a function of the efficiency of the solar
cells.

TABLE II. PROJECTION FOR FUTURE ENERGY DEMAND, ECONOMIC & POPULATION GROWTH

KWH / Population Total energy Electricity Demand

Year Percent electricity $ / capita
person millions / TWh / TWh (GW)
Yearly growth 6% 0.56% 6.6% 10% n/a 6%
2010 2,150 160 344 28 (3.2 GW) 8.1% $600
2020 3,850 169 651 73 (8.3 GW) 11.1% $1,075
2030 6,895 179 1,234 188 (21.5 GW) 15.3% $1,924
2040 12,349 189 2,336 489 (56 GW) 20.9% $3,446
2050 22,114 200 4,424 1,267 (145 GW) 28.6% $6,171

For calculations of solar resource arbitrary efficiencies of 10% are normally assumed [4].The global supply chain in
Solar-PV is far larger than in Bangladesh, with installation rates in 2008 of 5.6 GW and an annual growth rate
approaching 40%, as shown in table-III [5].

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 ISSN (Print) : 2320 – 3765
ISSN (Online): 2278 – 8875

International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,

Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2014

By 2030 the installation rate would have reached almost 1 GWp a year, which is highly plausible considering the
European Photovoltaic Industry Association [6] predict that the solar-PV supply chain is expected to deliver and sustain
production to support a market between 80 GW and 160 GW a year worldwide by 2030. Bangladesh would therefore
represent approximately 1% of the global market under this scenario.
TABLE III. THE STATUS OF SOLAR-PV IN THE WORLD

Year Installed capacity (GWp) Annual growth rate Installation rate (GWp)

2004 3.8 38% 1.1

2005 5.2 34% 1.3

2006 6.8 31% 1.6

2007 9.2 35% 2.4

2008 14.7 61% 5.6

More than 500 potential consumers have been trained on the operation and maintenance of the entire PV system.
This was conducted by BCAS and CMES experts. AEC initiated solar PV program (SPV) in 1985. The systems
installed over the period 1985-1994 are 9790 watt peak. Most of the systems are not functional at present because of
the lack of fund for spare parts, maintenance and back-up service.
TABLE IV. PROGRESS OF SOLAR PV INSTALLATION

System type No. Of units supplied Watt Peak

I Nil Nil
Ii 233 Charging station
Iii 27 Charging station
Iv 113 5,198
V 115 10,588
Total of Household
188
systems
Charging station 3 29,440
Health clinic 1 828
46,054

V. CONCLUSION
It has been made clear from the previous paragraphs that Bangladesh is already strongly dependent upon traditional
renewable energy technologies and notable initiatives have been taken to popularize modern RETs by different
agencies. Even a densely populated (1355 inhabitants/km2) country can live rather well with a solar energy input 80%
with all the amenities that modern technologies can provide. The poor countries like Bangladesh in the tropical regions
mobilize their resources to develop technology for the utilization of solar energy .

Copyright to IJAREEIE www.ijareeie.com 7032

 ISSN (Print) : 2320 – 3765
ISSN (Online): 2278 – 8875

International Journal of Advanced Research in Electrical,

Electronics and Instrumentation Engineering
(An ISO 3297: 2007 Certified Organization)

Vol. 3, Issue 1, January 2014

REFERENCES
[1] Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Sustainable Rural Energy web site (http://www.lged. org/sre).
[2] Schofield, N., et al. Hybrid energy sources for electric and fuel cell vehicle propulsion. in IEEE Vehicle Power and Propulsion Conference
(VPPC). 2005. Chicago, IL..
[3] WB, Implementation, Completion and Results Report on a Credit in the amount of US$ 120 million to the People’s Republic of Bangladesh for
a Power Sector Development Policy. 2009, World Bank
[4] Mondal, M.A.H. and M. Denich, Assessment of renewable energy resources potential for electricity generation in Bangladesh. Renewable &
Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2010. 14(8): p. 2401-2413.
[5] EPIA, Solar Photovoltaic Electricity: A mainstream power source in Europe by 2020. 2009, European Photovoltaic Industry
Association.
[6] UNDP, Energy and Climate Change: Strategic Programme Framework 2006-2010. 2008.

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