Solar power potentials

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Solar power has become a non-traditional source of electricity of much potential in rural Bangladesh. It suits rural Bangladesh because it does not involve expenditure on wires, poles and other equipment. Users need to spend only once to buy the solar panels that last decades with good maintenance. They do not have to pay monthly bills. Regular power shut-offs, suffered by REB customers, would not bother them either.
Solar power has proved to be dependable. Good and almost continuous sunshine is almost guaranteed round the year in Bangladesh. Solar energy is clean and environment friendly unlike coal or fuel oil.
Government patronage can help step up its use in the rural areas. The government can encourage the state-owned commercial banks to provide loans on easy terms to rural solar panel buyers. Mass awareness campaigns in the media on the benefits of solar power and a further reduction of taxes on the import of the solar panels can popularise the use of solar power. The private sector could be encouraged to produce and sell sloar panels at affordable rates.
Besides solar power, it is also time to popularise other non-conventional forms of energy to reduce dependence on conventional energy sources. Conventional energy production using diesel and gas is relatively expensive, wasteful and creates external dependence. But the alternative energy like solar power, biogas, wind energy and wave energy are environment friendly and should be particularly suitable for Bangladesh.
The government should immediately adopt a policy to popularise alternative energy sources. Even in a developed country like Britain, non-conventional or alternative energy sources meets substantially the national energy needs.
Ali Hossain
DOHS
Dhaka