Solar power in South Asia
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Solar power is a viable means of generating energy in South Asia. South Asia has the ideal combination of both high solar insolation [1] and a high density of potential customers.[2][3][4]
Cheap solar can bring electricity to a major chunk of subcontinent's people who still live off-grid, bypassing the need of installation of expensive grid lines. Also since the costs of energy consumed for temperature control squarely influences a regions energy intensity, and with cooling load requirements roughly in phase with the sun's intensity, cooling from intense solar radiation could make perfect energy-economic sense in the subcontinent. [5] [6] [7]
However, a thriving market for solar technology may only develop when it becomes competitively cheaper.
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[edit] By country
[edit] Bangladesh
In Bangladesh, a number of domestic solar energy systems are in use in houses around the country. The use of solar energy on this scale is advantageous as 75% of homes in the country do not have access to mains electricity. The World Bank is backing a programme of making solar energy available to the public in Bangladesh, as part of the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Project (REREDP), which subsudises solar energy systems.
A typical 'solar home system' can power four to six 'low energy' lights, plus a socket for TV, radio or battery recharging, and a mobile telephone charging unit, too. Each system consists of a solar photovoltaic panel, mounted on the house roof. Depending on its size, this provides between 40W and 75W of electricity in full sunlight (the most common being 50W).
Rahimafrooz is a major supplier of batteries and other solar components for the programme. It has also installed centralised systems, water pumps, street lights, and solar-powered telecom solutions to various organisations, totalling about 448KWp.
[edit] Pakistan
The average amount of daily sunlight in Pakistan is nine and half hours[citation needed], there are few cloudy days even in the wettest regions. Eight power generation plants have been installed and eleven are in various stages of completion. Further feasibility studies are undergoing. In December 1981 the first solar photovoltaic system was commissioned, located in Mumniala (a village 60 km from Islamabad). Four solar systems has been commissioned in Khukhera (Lasbela district), Ghakar (Attock district), Malmari (Thatta district) and Dittal Khan Leghari (Tharparkar district).
[edit] See also
- Solar power in India
- Indian Solar Loan Programme
- Energy security
- Renewable energy in developing countries
[edit] References
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