Solar pumps to replace diesel sets
Thursday, 28 October 2010 Author / Source : AKRAM HOSSAIN
Resource development Foundation (RDF), a non-government development organization, is aiming to set up ten modules of its innovative solar irrigation system (SIS), a combination of panels, inverter, submersible pump and accessories deigned in-house. The modules lift and discharge required volumes of water for irrigation.
The modules will be set up under a use-and-pay model and after paying for the modules for 10 years, users would acquire ownership of the asset.
The modules will be commissioned by the end of December 2010 at a cost of Tk 3.70 crore at locations as diverse as Kolapara, Amtoli, Borguna Sadar, Betagee and Bamna Upazillas of Patuakhali and Barguna districts.
M Golam Mostafa, chief executive officer of RDF, told The Independent that RDF was willing to set up a total number of 50 SIS plants in Bangladesh within December 2011. the modules would reduce the countrys power shortage and bring down use of fuel used in all-too-common diesel pumpsets, besides helping to establish environmentally-friendly farming practices.
RDF said this technology had been developed for the first time in Bangladesh.
It estimated that a normal SIS plant would cost of Tk 39.75 lakh with life span of around 20 years. One unit now in use at Kumrakhali-Fultala Adorsha village in Barguna was covering total 40 acres of land with irrigation water, Mostafa said.
Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. (RREL) prepared the technical support while Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. (MTB) provided financial support for the project at 9 per cent interest rate. The SIS plant can supply 8 lakh liters water over 8 hours daily for the irrigation of 40 acres of land.
Mostafa said the design team was working to design a SIS plant that could provide irrigation water to as much as 100 acres of land.
The cost of establishing the existing SIS units was to be realised through installments over 10 years by a total number of 83 farmers who were benefited by this project.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) had provided refinancing fund at 5 per cent rate of interest to MTB and MTB would forward this credit line to RDF at 9 per cent interest for only 5 years, sources said.
For the successful implementation of the SIS plant, sources pointed out, a committee of 15 farmers out of the 83 beneficiaries was formed to continuously monitor the project side by side technical and periodic training is given to the farmers for ensuring the project successful implementation.
Earlier, there was lack of knowledge and awareness about solar-based technology and most people in Bangladesh believed that these systems were very costly, and this perception was the major problem in the development and marketing of SIS, Mostafa said.
RDF has established that SIS modules offered a proven, sustainable and cost competitive technology, he claimed.
Mostafa called upon the BB to reduce the bank interest to 2 per cent for 10 years. Mostafa pointed out that a number of banks including Rupali Bank, Mercantile Bank, Uttara Bank, had expresssed keen interest in RDFs forthcoming SIS projects.
Thursday, 28 October 2010 Author / Source : AKRAM HOSSAIN
Resource development Foundation (RDF), a non-government development organization, is aiming to set up ten modules of its innovative solar irrigation system (SIS), a combination of panels, inverter, submersible pump and accessories deigned in-house. The modules lift and discharge required volumes of water for irrigation.
The modules will be set up under a use-and-pay model and after paying for the modules for 10 years, users would acquire ownership of the asset.
The modules will be commissioned by the end of December 2010 at a cost of Tk 3.70 crore at locations as diverse as Kolapara, Amtoli, Borguna Sadar, Betagee and Bamna Upazillas of Patuakhali and Barguna districts.
M Golam Mostafa, chief executive officer of RDF, told The Independent that RDF was willing to set up a total number of 50 SIS plants in Bangladesh within December 2011. the modules would reduce the countrys power shortage and bring down use of fuel used in all-too-common diesel pumpsets, besides helping to establish environmentally-friendly farming practices.
RDF said this technology had been developed for the first time in Bangladesh.
It estimated that a normal SIS plant would cost of Tk 39.75 lakh with life span of around 20 years. One unit now in use at Kumrakhali-Fultala Adorsha village in Barguna was covering total 40 acres of land with irrigation water, Mostafa said.
Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd. (RREL) prepared the technical support while Mutual Trust Bank Ltd. (MTB) provided financial support for the project at 9 per cent interest rate. The SIS plant can supply 8 lakh liters water over 8 hours daily for the irrigation of 40 acres of land.
Mostafa said the design team was working to design a SIS plant that could provide irrigation water to as much as 100 acres of land.
The cost of establishing the existing SIS units was to be realised through installments over 10 years by a total number of 83 farmers who were benefited by this project.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) had provided refinancing fund at 5 per cent rate of interest to MTB and MTB would forward this credit line to RDF at 9 per cent interest for only 5 years, sources said.
For the successful implementation of the SIS plant, sources pointed out, a committee of 15 farmers out of the 83 beneficiaries was formed to continuously monitor the project side by side technical and periodic training is given to the farmers for ensuring the project successful implementation.
Earlier, there was lack of knowledge and awareness about solar-based technology and most people in Bangladesh believed that these systems were very costly, and this perception was the major problem in the development and marketing of SIS, Mostafa said.
RDF has established that SIS modules offered a proven, sustainable and cost competitive technology, he claimed.
Mostafa called upon the BB to reduce the bank interest to 2 per cent for 10 years. Mostafa pointed out that a number of banks including Rupali Bank, Mercantile Bank, Uttara Bank, had expresssed keen interest in RDFs forthcoming SIS projects.
