Impact of solar panel on livelihoods in a selected area of Bangladesh

Authors

  • Mohammad Ataur Rahman Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202
  • Md. Ibrahim Kholilullah 2Department of Agricultural Finance, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202

Keywords:

Solar panel, livelihood, bangladesh

Abstract

Demand-supply gap of electricity is one of the largest bottlenecks for economic growth in Bangladesh. Solar panels may be a reliable and good source for supplying electricity throughout the country. The study was undertaken to determine the impact of solar panel on livelihoods, Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and Payback period (PBP) of the solar panel and the problems and constrains of the solar panel faced by the households. For sustainable solar panel use, financial analysis is essential to increase the sustainability of poor people’s livelihoods through promoting improved access to  different types of capital. With these views multi-stage cluster sampling technique was used to collect data from 60 respondents who were using solar panels in some areas of Sherpur upazila under Bogra district in Bangladesh. Survey method was followed to collect data from the respondents. Data were  collected by the researcher through personal interview and focus group discussion. Tabular technique was applied for the analysis of data and sustainable livelihood framework was used for the analysis of household assets. Most of the respondents reported that both their income, expenditure level as well as their livelihoods had increased after using the solar panels. After getting the solar panel purchased most of the livelihood assets were improved.  Financial analyses were done on the basis of investment decision making tools revealed that NPV, BCR, IRR and PBP were Tk 8242.97, 1.03, 17.46% and 5.21 years, respectively. But 75% of the respondents said that the land was unchanged. 96.67% of the respondents reported shortage of sunlight in rainy day as problem, 90% of the respondents marked choosing of proper place and angel to place the solar panel as problem, and 91.67% of the respondents showed low power storage capacity as problem. It may be conclude that Bangladesh has a great potentiality to adopt more solar panels especially in household level since it has positive impact on livelihoods. 

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Published

21 June 2017

How to Cite

Rahman, M. A., & Kholilullah, M. I. (2017). Impact of solar panel on livelihoods in a selected area of Bangladesh. Journal of Renewable Energy and Smart Grid Technology, 12(1), 133–142. Retrieved from https://ph01.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/RAST/article/view/90452