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Surge in Solar-Powered Homes : Experience in Off-Grid Rural Bangladesh.

Khandker, Shahidur R.

Surge in Solar-Powered Homes : Experience in Off-Grid Rural Bangladesh. - 1st ed. - 1 online resource (131 pages) - Directions in Development - Energy and Mining . - Directions in Development - Energy and Mining .

Front Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Foreword -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- About the Authors -- Abbreviations -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Challenge of Off-Grid Electrification -- Bangladesh's Experience -- Study Purpose and Approach -- Research Issues and Key Findings -- Structure of This Book -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2 Surge in Off-Grid Solar-Powered Homes -- Benefits of SHS Installation -- Organization of Program Institutions -- Delivery and Financing Scheme -- Distribution of PO Market Share -- Technical Quality of Installations and Monitoring -- Market Size and Potential Demand -- Carbon Emissions Reduction -- Concluding Remarks -- Note -- References -- Chapter 3 Solar Energy's Role in Rural Electrification: International Experience -- Development Benefits to Rural People -- Overcoming Financial Hurdles -- Technical Considerations -- Building a Thriving Off-Grid Market -- Beyond Off-Grid Markets -- Potential for Bangladesh -- References -- Chapter 4 Patterns of SHS Growth and Usage: Survey Data Findings -- Overview of Survey Design -- Growth Trend in SHS Adoption -- Drivers of SHS Adoption -- System Capacity and Appliance Use -- Composition of Energy Consumption and Use -- Summing Up -- Annex 4A: Household Survey Design -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 5 Welfare Impacts of Household Adoption -- SHS Gains Expressed as Consumer Surplus -- Reduction in CO2 Emissions -- Econometric Estimation of SHS Benefits -- Are SHS Households Better Off? -- Do the Benefits Outweigh the Costs? -- Annex 5A: Note on Propensity-Score Matching Technique -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 6 Market Analysis and Role of the Subsidy -- Estimating Market Size -- Subsidy Impact on Household Welfare -- Financing Mechanism of SHS: A Closer Look -- Is the Subsidy Worth Continuing?. Annex 6A: Contingency Valuation Table Used to Calculate Willingness to Pay -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 7 Developing a Sustainable Market -- Program Incentives and PO Performance -- Market Competitiveness -- Technical Quality: What Are the Gaps? -- Demand Dynamics and Market Size -- Concluding Remarks -- Annex 7A: Analysis of SHS Technical Efficiency -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 8 Overview, Policy Perspectives, and Emerging Issues -- Surge in SHS Growth in Off-Grid Areas -- Study Overview -- Drivers of SHS Adoption and Benefits to Households -- Subsidy Effectiveness and Emerging Issues -- Boxes -- Figures -- photos -- Tables -- Back Cover.

Bangladesh has the world's fastest growing, off-grid solar home system (SHS) coverage. In the past decade, the number of SHS installations has risen phenomenally--from a five-year target of 50,000 in 2003 to 50,000 a month in 2013, with support from the World Bank and other development partners. Even so, only 10 percent of off-grid households have been reached, suggesting ample room for continued expansion. Given the recent surge in SHS adoption, a key policy issue is whether the partial subsidy provided under the current program, implemented by the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), should be continued. Surge in Solar Powered Homes: Off-Grid Experience in Bangladesh assesses the country's remarkable growth in SHS, its support schemes, and the welfare impacts for rural households, using both large-scale household survey and institutional data. The book's findings clearly demonstrate that the social benefits from SHS adoption far exceed the cost of the subsidy. Within the current market incentive structure, there is tremendous scope for broadening the rural market reach. But the high upfront cost of purchasing a SHS at current market prices is a barrier to future sales, suggesting the continued need for IDCOLs well-targeted, subsidized operation.

9781464803758


Solar energy -- Economic aspects -- Bangladesh.
Rural electrification -- Bangladesh.
Rural development -- Bangladesh.
Economic development -- Bangladesh.


Electronic books.

HD9681.B3 -- .S87 2014eb

333.792/3095492

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