Sustainable Small-Scale Photovoltaic Technology for Poverty Alleviation-a Case Study in Bangladesh

This research focuses on impacts of the small-scale photovoltaic technology (PVT) in remote rural areas of Bangladesh. Since many rural areas in Bangladesh do not have reliable electric grid connection, PVT provides means for increasing human productivity and wellness to create jobs, educational opportunities, and to improve health. However, PVT installations are costly to maintain and technical reliability are major concerns for remote applications. To determine the long-term sustainability this research examined connections between PVT and poverty alleviation in conjunction with income, social acceptance of the technology, and affordability. A model has been proposed to incorporate available PVT resources, demand for PVT energy, technical and financial sustainability, economic and environmental benefits, and social awareness. The inputs for the model are cost, technical knowhow, public awareness, supply chain, and support structures. The outputs are income/jobs, education, social life, security, health, and environment. The outcomes of this model are used to determine the appropriateness and effectiveness of PVT applications in Bangladesh.