Introduction

Bangladesh has major problems with energy crisis, persisting poverty and environmental degradation.
Moreover, the people who are connected with the national grid are experiencing frequent load
shedding. With only 49% of Bangladeshis having access to electricity, at present, the country can
generate about 4500 MW electricity, while peak demand is about 6000 MW(USAID, 2011). RET can solve
this problem by renewable such as sunshine, wind, tidal waves, waterfalls or river current, sea waves or
biomass. Renewable forms of energy emit far smaller amounts of greenhouse gases compared with fossil
fuels. . Usable biomass including cow dung, human excreta, poultry litter, kitchen organic waste, aquatic
plants and weeds of a village in Bangladesh can produce the amount of biogas. On the other hand,
Bangladesh has one of the highest solar insulation on the earth.

Synergy

On the other hand, Bangladesh has one of the highest solar insulation on the earth. Development in
Bangladesh without corresponding increase in per capita electricity and gas consumption is, therefore,
not feasible. Low level of energy service is a serious obstacle to raising social, health and nutritional
status of community. Suggestions can now be made to the extent that the usage of RETs would launch a
new era of appropriate technology, sustainable socio-economic and environmental development in the
country.

Biogas technology

There is now yet another wave of renewed interest in biogas due to the increasing concerns of climate
change, indoor air pollution and increasing oil prices. True, commercially produced pipeline natural gas
plays and will continue to play vital role in the industrialization and urbanization of the country. Over the
last few decades there have been renewed interests and initiatives by many organizations, the biomass
energy sources can be used more efficiently and cost effectively for the people. The biogas is supplied to
households for use in cooking in a similar way natural gas is used. In addition, biogas may be used to
light houses. Biogas can also be used to run small generator to produce electricity for running electrical
household appliances like TV, electric light, fridge etc.

Improved cooking stove

ICS are those traditional stoves upon which some modifications have been made to give higher thermal
efficiencies. Improved stove save 50-60% traditional fuel as compared with traditional ones. The
reductions of traditional fuels by improved stoves, therefore, have lower emission of greenhouse gases
in the atmosphere. It also helps conserve the forest resources of the country.

Factors of success

RET is the technology of the Future. One of our initial challenges was to bring down the high upfront cost
of a solar system.

Innovative Financial Schemes to make the Technology Affordable at the same cost as Kerosene

An innovative installment based financial scheme worked fantastically which reduced the cost of a
system to monthly kerosene cost. As the price of traditional energy sources rises, renewable energy
technology is becoming more and more viable, especially due to its low per unit cost.
Focus on Empowerment, Income Generation & Cost Savings

The burden of women were reduced as they no longer had to clean kerosene soot , work under dim light
and they could take part in home based income generating activities. Children could study under solar
light and get connected to the outside world through television. Solar power especially helped improve
connectivity, increase the sales of electronic goods, create new business opportunities such as mobile
phones charging shops, electronics repair, maintenance shops, community television centers etc.

Capitalizing on Community Forces

Installation and maintenance the systems, understand the local market and customs were accelerated by
the local youth. GS not only provided clean energy solutions, but also created powerful social and
economic forces for their adoption. For example, GS created jobs for young men and women who could
earn enough in few years to install a system themselves.