Problems with Solar Home System in Dhaka City
Problems with Solar Home System Tabita Zahur ABSTRACT
This paper has identified the problems with solar home system in Dhaka city. In spite of significant success of solar home system in the rural sector, this new industry is not without its problems which include high cost, sub standard solar panels and battery, low generation capacity and lack of knowledge about the technology. Our research is limited to the problems faced in acquiring, installing and using Solar Home System (SHS) in the residential apartments of urban Dhaka city. This proposed exploratory research is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary research includes lead-user survey of housing developers and suppliers of the technology to identify the problems in acquiring and installing Solar Home System, a pilot survey on the end-users of solar-power, namely, the households residing in those apartments with solar home system, and finally an experience survey to identify the causes and possible solutions of the problems. In analysis of the qualitative data, two methods of analysis has been used: analytical induction & data display and analysis has been used. The findings from this analysis have been used to develop hypothesis and suggest further studies. This research has found that the government regulation is very vague and has been imposed on households who lack sufficient knowledge, incentive and interest to implement Solar Home System (SHS). The market also lacks regulation to monitor and control quality and price. Housing developers are yet to realize this discrepancy in quality so there is no benchmark in the market. Solar panels and batteries use-up a lot of space in the apartment buildings which is a big concern for the developers. However, many apartments have made clever installation of the equipments maximizing the utility of existing common space without creating any problem for the residents. Implementing Solar Home System is considered an
This paper has identified the problems with solar home system in Dhaka city. In spite of significant success of solar home system in the rural sector, this new industry is not without its problems which include high cost, sub standard solar panels and battery, low generation capacity and lack of knowledge about the technology. Our research is limited to the problems faced in acquiring, installing and using Solar Home System (SHS) in the residential apartments of urban Dhaka city. This proposed exploratory research is based on both primary and secondary data. Primary research includes lead-user survey of housing developers and suppliers of the technology to identify the problems in acquiring and installing Solar Home System, a pilot survey on the end-users of solar-power, namely, the households residing in those apartments with solar home system, and finally an experience survey to identify the causes and possible solutions of the problems. In analysis of the qualitative data, two methods of analysis has been used: analytical induction & data display and analysis has been used. The findings from this analysis have been used to develop hypothesis and suggest further studies. This research has found that the government regulation is very vague and has been imposed on households who lack sufficient knowledge, incentive and interest to implement Solar Home System (SHS). The market also lacks regulation to monitor and control quality and price. Housing developers are yet to realize this discrepancy in quality so there is no benchmark in the market. Solar panels and batteries use-up a lot of space in the apartment buildings which is a big concern for the developers. However, many apartments have made clever installation of the equipments maximizing the utility of existing common space without creating any problem for the residents. Implementing Solar Home System is considered an