Right now, Bangladesh is going through a severe energy crisis.
Every area in the country goes through 1-6 hours of load-shedding daily. Because of the high fuel prices in the international market, no one seems to see any solution to this energy crisis in the here and now. But household on-grid solar systems could bring an end to this crisis.
The notion of the solar power system is not new in Bangladesh. However, the majority of already active systems are owned by a small number of households and do not provide enough power to sustain typical home activities. The majority of solar systems utilized in the nation are DC off-grid systems -- which need different electric equipment and produce extremely little wattage -- but on-grid or hybrid solar solutions may easily produce 1kW to 10kW or more per household solar plant. In addition, the AC inverter technology eliminates the need for a DC appliance, so it can power our typical household appliances as well as energy-intensive ones, such as refrigerators, air conditioners, televisions, and even electric ovens.
Five hours of sunlight is sufficient for a 10kWh solar power system to generate at least 40kWh of power. This totals 1,100-1,200 kWh/units per month from a single home solar power system, and while only 600 square feet are required for a 10kWh system, a roof of 1,500 square feet may easily accommodate a 20-30kWh solar plant.
This results in a monthly average generation of 2,200-3,000 kWh/units of power.
According to a 2017 survey by BECM, Khulna University of Engineering and Technology, three room flats use around 234kWh of energy per month. Also according to this survey, a building with eight apartments might be self-sufficient with a 20kWh solar plant. A building with 16 flats may generate 50% of its electrical needs. The most important fact is that a one-story house or structure in a rural region does not require these enormous quantities of energy. With a grid-tied solar system, these solar plants may readily transmit their excess power to the national grid.
Therefore, based on the aforementioned facts, our residential sector may be able to generate all of the power it needs through its own solar plant. And rural one-story buildings and single-family homes cannot consume the entire amount of power produced. With a solar power system that is connected to the national grid, the excess energy that is produced may be transferred to the national grid itself, so mitigating the demand for additional energy by urban multi-story buildings.
Due to the fact that the residential sector may generate all or almost all of its necessary electricity during the day by itself, the conventional power plant can redirect its full capacity to industrial needs. And at night, when the industrial sector requires less energy, households may obtain their power from traditional power plants. Typically, summer is longer in Bangladesh than winter, thus this strategy might provide a solution in the energy sector.
Consequently, a solar power system can survive between 20 and 25 years with monthly and annual maintenance. And for the duration of these decades, these plants will create carbon-free, clean electricity. In addition, an on-grid solar system does not require batteries for energy storage. Therefore, there are no substantial environmental effects associated with battery chemicals.
For nationwide execution of this solar plant, we will require cooperation from all sectors. First, our electric power authority must install a net metering system to track the entering and outgoing units of power from solar plants to the national grid. The government must also give legal and logistical assistance for the implementation of these plants. A tax exemption on solar plant-related equipment would substantially facilitate the establishment of new facilities.
In addition, the government may offer tax breaks or interest-free loans to homeowners that install these plants. Additionally, local manufacturers must be supported in this field. Despite the solar plant's remarkable long-term efficiency, the government must take the initiative in the formative stages.
With the above analysis, it can be concluded that renewable solar energy has significant potential in Bangladesh, and as fossil fuels will ultimately run out the time to transition to renewable green energy. Solar energy might save us from the current energy crisis and unbearable load sheddings, as well as aid us in developing an environmentally sound energy sector.
SM Asif Mahmud is a freelance contributor.
