Harnessing the solar power

Over the years, there has been a spree in the use of solar energy in Bangladesh and elsewhere in the world. With energy demand growing fast and limitations in conventional resources to produce energy getting tightened, there is an understandable quest for alternative energy sources. The economic and environmental concerns with regard to the use of conventional energy sources like coal, gas and oil have also been gearing up the search for alternative sources.

The search for alternative energy source is nothing new. In the 5th century, the Greeks used to design homes to capture as much sun light as they could. The Romans also followed the suit and concentrated on developing architectural models that would allow as much sunshine into the rooms and terraces as possible. During the 19th century, European scientists attempted to run steam engine heated up by sunrays. Later in the century, photovoltaic cells were invented to convert sun radiation into electricity. That was the ground setter for photovoltaic panels that are prominently seen on rooftops or open fields generating electricity in substitution of the conventional energy.

It is well known that Bangladesh has enormous potentials to harness solar energy. Being a tropical country, the sunshine rate is one of the highest in the world. However, the use of such abundant solar energy is nothing remarkable so far. Currently, solar energy is limited to home uses in the rural or off-grid areas. The solar home system or the roof-top panels are being used by little over four million homes. However, cost and quality are reported to be the main challenges in popularising this renewable energy option which is also dubbed as clean energy. There are allegations that poor quality panels are being distributed by the concerned agencies which have been de-motivating the intended users. In the recent time, government's levy of VAT and tax has added salt to the wound.

There has to be wider use of solar energy in the country but this has to be affordable and qualitative. The government has an announced plan to develop renewable energy sources which should account for over 2400 MW power generation by 2021. To achieve this target, there has to be extended use of solar energy in small scale industries and in irrigation network. Secondly, we need to focus on on-grid projects with sufficient storage capacity. It has been proven that on-grid solar systems have better efficiency and much more sustainable.

Though we are making significant progress in using solar energy at domestic level, we cannot continue to romanticise it for long. Electricity is vital for life and living and that the demand is growing every hour in a day. Our dependence on traditional sources of energy is bound to be locked in near future for various reasons, mainly economic and environmental reasons. If countries like Gabon, Nepal, Indonesia, Egypt etc. have attained successes in creating solar parks to meet domestic and small scale industries electricity demands, why can't we. We need to stimulate our plans and thoughts for harnessing the nature gifted sun power, for our good and our sustainability.

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