Problematizing solar energy in Bangladesh: Benefits, burdens, and electricity access through solar home systems in remote islands

The solar home system (SHS) is one of the proven technologies that is able to provide access to basic electricity to people where grid expansion is challenging. SHS technology was adopted in Bangladesh in 2003 through the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) and installed more than 4.13 million systems across the country, including remote islands like Hatiya. The benefits of SHS have been extensively studied in the literature, particularly focusing on the rural electrification process. This study sheds light on a different approach to this field: Is SHS still providing the proven benefits to its owners, or has it become a burden? To answer this question, a survey was conducted in the rural areas of Hatiya. The analysis revealed that households are mainly benefitting from (i) light at night (83%), and (ii) both light at night and mobile phone charging (17%) from SHSs. However, they are not completely satisfied with the systems due to a number of problems such as frequent light and controller replacement, use of kerosene lamps or candles at night in addition to SHS, and charging issues during monsoons. Thus, SHS is a burden to the owners unless the overall system's technical quality, including parts and accessories, is ensured. Related policy measures are recommended to turn this burden into a benefit again. These findings are also applicable to the remote islands of other least developed countries with similar socioeconomic characteristics to those of Bangladesh.