Thread: Solar power, distributed power, This is terrific news

1 million small domestic solar systems in Bangladesh - in areas with no grid service.

This is the way to get both economic and environmentally valuable services into areas that may never, ever get grid access to centrally generated power.

Bangladesh Hits One Million Solar Home Systems - Compass

The Bangladesh story is particularly exciting because Grameen has singlehandedly shattered the energy 'axioms' on which the international policy community has relied for decades: "Renewable energy is too expensive." Wrong! "Even if solar makes sense, the poor can't afford it or they won't pay." Wrong. "The grid will come regardless so off-grid, decentralized energy is a waste of time, money, and effort." Wrong, wrong, wrong. What Bangladesh does prove is that Carl Pope is right: deploying solar makes the most sense for off-grid areas where the economics are compelling and the need is great.

That's what makes the next phase of the solar revolution even more exciting. Today we are talking about 1 million solar home systems in Bihar, but tomorrow we could easily be talking about tens of millions in either Bihar or Uttar Pradesh, Indian states that have off-grid populations larger than most European nations.

Of course they go on to point out that you need a strong rural/small loan banking sector to make this work. But there are enough places in the world where this is true that they should just get on with it - then work out how to extend further.

Another innovative application of solar power in Bangladesh:

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha, a non-profit organization in the area, has started building solar-powered schools which float like boats (they technically are boats)

Solar-Powered Floating Schools Allow Bangladeshi Kids To Learn During Monsoon Season | Environment

Okay, a million solar systems. That doesn't tell me much. What are these systems capable of doing? I have a solar calculator. Would that count?

As far as I know from some of those single panel tiny things the Chinese are putting up in Africa, they're enough to charge up batteries for lights and phones and maybe a fan for cooling (or run a small fridge for vaccines in a health centre). They certainly wouldn't be enough to run much of the equipment of a standard Australian or American home, not even an ordinary cooktop or oven. They'd probably be enough for a microwave cooker though.

Not much by our standards, but absolutely marvellous for people who are spending a lot of their money on kerosene or other fuel. That's where the money for repaying the loans comes from - the savings on not buying other fuel.