The Marketmakers - Solar for the Hinterland of Bangladesh

A solar market is booming in the hinterland of Bangladesh: not in the megacity, Dhaka―but in village markets and bazars, in tribal hamlets in the Hill Tracts, on islands in the Brahmaputra River and in the fishing villages along the Bay of Bengal.  This is Bangladesh’s hinterland, where 70% of the population lives.  And in this respect Bangladesh is no different from other developing countries in Asia and Africa.

But here Bangladesh stands out: It is home to a thriving rural market for solar home systems―a market based on private enterprise, competition and innovation.  Within a decade, 50 rural enterprises were installing up to 65,000 solar home systems a month, creating thousands of village jobs and fueling the economy.

No doubt, rural business is tough.  How do you create demand for solar power given limited village household incomes and a technology no one has ever heard of?  And how do you ensure quality service to remote households scattered across a river delta?  Many see the answer in subsidizing the solar systems.  Bangladesh showed that subsidies alone won’t create a market.  Developing a solar market takes more―much more: rural entrepreneurs, finance, innovative business models and leadership.

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Statement by Professor Peter Droege, General Chairman of WCRE, President of EUROSOLAR

'There are two major threats, both man-made, to our collective survival: nuclear war and out-of-control climate chaos. Avoiding both requires determination, unity, collaboration and focus. Here it is important to overcome mistakes of divisiveness and hegemony of the past and allow enlightened and harmonious regional diversity to prosper - to build a mature, authentic and resilient Europe – one founded on Renewable Energy. The Treaty of Maastricht, freshly interpreted, offers guidance on how to rapidly implement a fully renewable, decarbonised Europe.

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The concluded Conference of the Parties (COP) in Katowice, and its background papers and declarations. confirmed that IPCC consensus driven science has been far too conservative in its projections, and that the UNFCCC COP process - while necessary in the absence of alternatives - has increasingly served to falsely assuage fears and placate the coal, oil, gas and nuclear lobbies.

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Talking Cities is a popular podcast hosted by Matt Enstice, which investigates cutting-edge innovations for cities in America and beyond and accesses the leaders creating, shaping and improving the cities we call home. In this episode, EUROSOLAR president Peter Droege talks about renewable energy, low carbon versus carbon neutrality and the dirty truth about fossil fuels. Enjoy the episode by clicking the link below!

> Talking Cities podcast with Peter Droege