Shakila Aziz

Renewable energy usage in the telecommunication sector of Bangladesh: Prospect and progress

Bangladesh is experiencing a rapid increase in teledensity after the advent of mobile telephony at the end of the last millennium. At the same time the power crisis is rising. The success of rising teledensity depends on the availability of reliable power. There are many telecom service providers in Bangladesh and it is predictable that in the near future the number of operators will increase. So it is a vital issue to provide power for the upcoming operators. This paper attempts to assess the probability of renewable energy usage in the telecom sector of Bangladesh, its present scenario, and how it can be made viable for future usage. The commercial power deficiency for telecommunication and the supporting renewable energy solutions feasibility is also analyzed. In some of the individual cases renewable power has been introduced on a test basis, and this paper also cited their individual progress.

Carbon trading and the Clean Development Mechanism: An opportunity for Bangladesh

The adverse effects of Green House Gases (GHG) inspired the industrialized nations (Annex 1 countries) to think about the mitigation of GHGs. After the widespread acceptance of the Kyoto Protocol organized by the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the developed countries can meet the obligation by reducing domestic emissions or by using one of the three Kyoto mechanism projects in developing countries. So, an opportunity has opened up for the developing nations to be benefited from the market based carbon trading mechanisms offered by the protocol. This paper illustrates the possibilities and opportunities for Bangladesh to gain economic and other benefits from this mechanism. It provides a review of existing ongoing projects, projects that are ready for implementation, and various opportunities explored by organizations in Bangladesh.

Marketing and financing of solar home systems in Bangladesh: Assessment of success

The commercial success of solar home systems in Bangladesh depends on the extent to which it can fulfill the needs of the end users, which will motivate users to invest money in SHS systems. This paper has explored the factors that can make SHS commercially viable in Bangladesh, and how far the SHS industry in the country has come to being commercially viable. The customers in Bangladesh have found that the SHS have satisfactory technical performance, an adequate financing infrastructure and good after sales support. The commercial distributors of SHS units also show increasing annual sales across Bangladesh, despite declining subsidies and rising prices of SHS.

The Case for Solar-Diesel Hybrid Minigrids in Bangladesh: Design Considerations

Bangladesh is experiencing the most successful solar home system based rural electrification program in the world. Yet the present scheme has revealed several shortcomings including the lack of a clear link to productive commercial activities as well as of a deeper energy inclusion. With sparsely distributed loads and limited energy demand, grid extension has not been found to be economically feasible as an electrification approach for the remote areas in Bangladesh. As it is the common tendency of the rural people to live in household clusters of high density, minigrid approaches have recently been identified as an attractive alternative to the prevalent stand-alone scheme. There is a perceived need for a wider understanding of the roles and applications of minigrids as tools towards achieving greater energy and resource efficiency. At the same time, there is a paucity of publications which explore the potential contributions of minigrids and their potential contribution with respect to resource efficiency. In order to address this perceived need, this paper describes approaches and methods used in implementing diesel-based minigrids on the one hand, and the contribution of renewables on the other. This paper highlights design considerations for developing solar-diesel hybrid minigrids in off grid rural areas of Bangladesh.

Brunnstein Hütte: An eco friendly off grid alpine hut

There are consumers in Germany who have an energy demand of several kWh/d, but who do not have grid connection. Energy supply from renewables is an ecologically friendly as well as an economically viable option for these consumers. The paper describes the energy solution for an alpine hut, Brunnstein Hütte, located in the mountains of Mittenwald in southern Germany. It describes how the energy demand of a mountain hut situated in an ecologically vulnerable region is progressively fulfilled by RE sources. It also analyzes the maintenance and load management schemes of the hut where energy efficiency is a vital point to consider.