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Agriculture is essential to Bangladesh's economy, employing 45% of the workforce. Water is crucial for irrigation, impacting crop quality and quantity. Traditional diesel and electric pumps are costly, with 1.34 million diesel and 270,000 electric pumps currently used, consuming 1 million tons of diesel yearly at a cost of $900 million. Government subsidies hinder innovation by covering expenses. Transportation challenges lead to unstable supply and high prices. These pumps are unreliable, costly to maintain, and harmful to the environment. The RERED II project introduces solar-powered pumps, leveraging Bangladesh's flat terrain and sunny climate. Funding from organizations like BCCRF, GPOBA, and USAID, channeled through the World Bank and IDCOL, supports this renewable energy initiative.
Project Owners (POs) cover 15% of the project expenses and supply farmers with water at a set price throughout the irrigation period. POs purchase pumps after getting technical specifications approved by IDCOL and then request financing from IDCOL. IDCOL provides 50% grant funding, 35% credit assistance, and POs account for 15% equity. Farmers in a test area are making the switch to solar-powered pumps, cutting costs and increasing dependability. IDCOL's subsidized solar panels are helping farmers like Islam by cutting down on irrigation expenses. Solar pumps are perfect for farms that have the capacity for three harvests in a year, can cover up to 20 acres, and require three rounds of crop watering. Farmers in Bangladesh's agriculture sector can pool their resources to buy water from a shared solar pump, thereby lessening the reliance on government fuel subsidies and diesel imports.
Impact: Over 300 pumps aid 6,000+ farmers, with plans for 1,250 more by 2018; each solar pump energizes 3 irrigations on 20 acres.
Read more: Solar-Powered Pumps Reduce Irrigation Costs in Bangladesh (worldbank.org)
Solar-powered ferry boats are transforming transportation in rural areas of Bangladesh, where waterways are crucial for daily commutes. These boats are retrofitted with 1kW solar panels and a 48V, 500W BLDC motor, allowing them to operate for up to 8 hours on a full charge. Measuring 6.5 meters in length and 2 meters in width, they can carry up to 1200 kg and travel at a speed of approximately 3 knots, covering around 60 km. The use of solar power not only reduces pollution and noise but also offers long-term cost savings by eliminating the need for diesel fuel. This eco-friendly initiative enhances connectivity and accessibility for rural communities, significantly improving their quality of life.
The goal of the Bangladesh Scaling-up Renewable Energy Project is to boost the amount of renewable energy capacity in Bangladesh. The primary objective is to increase the capacity of renewable energy and secure funding for renewable energy initiatives in Bangladesh. The project requires about $413.04 million in total, with major funding coming from the World Bank, Strategic Climate Fund, and various other sources. IDCOL, EGCB, and SREDA are implementing the project. Major elements of the program consist of building a 50 MW solar energy park in the Feni district. The goal of the project is to decrease annual carbon emissions by 377,000 tons of CO2 equivalent. This initiative marks a major milestone in moving Bangladesh towards a greener and more environmentally friendly energy future. Read more: Development Projects : Bangladesh Scaling-up Renewable Energy Project - P161869 (worldbank.org)
