Increasing access to energy services in rural areas - REEEP ...

MODULE 10: INCREASING ACCESS TO ENERGY SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS
page 10.43
ing, a second financing could assist in the company’s start-up; this transaction
might involve an additional loan or the purchase of an equity stake in the
company. In this initial period, significant in-kind support is provided including
a B-REED representative working closely with the company’s management.
The support increases the probability that a more “bankable” project can eventually
be presented to financial investors and partners.
Grameen Shakti in Bangladesh 49
The Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, a reputable and effective micro-lending
agency, with over 1000 branches and two million members, initiated a programme
in 1996 to provide credit for renewable energy systems to serve those without
access to electricity, through a non-profit rural energy company, Grameen Shakti.
Loans are made for solar photovoltaic home systems, which call for a small down
payment. Grameen Shakti’s first initiative has been a 1000 unit project to determine
a number of important points concerning household solar photovoltaics.
These include:
• The technical performance of these systems in rural Bangladesh;
• Their acceptance by the poor;
• The income-generating potential of the extended workday;
• The affordability of such systems, especially when technical improvements and
economies of scale are factored in;
• The training, monitoring and evaluation expertise requirements to successfully
expand this experience should it prove successful.
More than 72000 solar home systems have been installed as of September 2006,
and an average of 2000 such systems are being sold every month. Twelve technological
centres have been set up (with plans to set up an additional 18) and
already 2000 women have been trained as solar system technicians.
A similar approach is considered for bio-digesters and solar thermal applications.
Research is being conducted for the development of a high quality solar water
heater, a solar cooker, a solar drier etc. A 1500 liter capacity solar water heater
was already installed on the roof of a dormitory. 50
49
WEC report, the Challenge of Rural Energy Poverty in Developing Countries, 1999
50
www.gshakti.com