Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF), a non-government initiative in the field of producing green energy has created over 7,000 green jobs by establishing 300 plus offices across country. It has installed over three hundred thousand of solar home systems in rural Bangladesh.
In a decade of time this organisation has contributed to the formation of green environment by promoting woman entrepreneurs and green technicians in this newly developed employment sector.
As one of the leading organizations in the country to provide pollution free renewable energy to the underprivileged rural people, BGEF works through innovative monthly installment based financing model.
BGEF has focused its primary work for the expansion of Solar Home System (SHS), Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP), Bio-gas Plant, Improved Cook Stoves (ICS), Solar Street Light, Solar Powered Arsenic Water Treatment Plant in rural Bangladesh.
Under the leadership of Dipal C. Barua, Founder & Chairman, BGEF, has been contributing to improve living environment of rural people, inspire them for better livelihood and to create awareness for climate change and mitigation for a bright green future for over a decade.
Founded in January 2010, Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF) has achieved remarkable growths by creating a network of over 300 Branch offices all over Bangladesh, creating over 7000 New Jobs, installing over 300,000 Solar Home Systems (SHS), 21 Solar Irrigation Pumps (SIP), 4300 Improve Cook Stoves, 150 Bio-Gas Plants, installing a total of 12,634 Solar Street Lights in all over Bangladesh.
BGEF has also installed around 1500 Solar AC rooftop system (300 watt – 1500 watt)in all over Bangladesh, around 1500 Solar DC bigger systems (220 watt – 600 watt), Installed Word’s First Solar Powered Arsenic Free pure Water Plant in Bangladesh, Swarm Electrification for Energising Inclusive Development Project with GIZ in the Islands of Faridpur and Manikganj and has Setup Green Technology Centers (GTC) to take services at the client’s doorstep.
BGEF has installed Solar Energy systems in 12 rural clinics in coordination with Ministry of Health. The clinics are: Hazrakhana Community Clinic Chowgacha, Jessore March 2,2010, Niamotpur Community Clinic Chowgacha, Jessore March 2,2010, Kushli Community Clinics Tungipara, Gopalgonj March16,2010, Gowhurdanga Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March17,2010, GhoserghatCommunity Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March16,2010, Munshir Char Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March16,2010, PatgatiMondol Bari Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March17,2010, Baghaircul Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March18,2010, Balohar Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March19,2010, UttarparaHaatkhola Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March19,2010, Horinhati Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March19,2010 and Taporia Community Clinic Tungipara, Gopalgonj March19,2010
In 1996, Mr. Dipal Chandra Barua successfully started expanding the renewable energy technology in rural Bangladesh as the Founding Managing Director of Grameen Shakti. He has designed a monthly instalment based financial model at the price of kerosene which has made the Solar Home System affordable for the rural people of Bangladesh and by following the path Bangladesh has already installed over 5.5 million Solar Home System in the off grid areas of Bangladesh which is the largest solar program in the world.
He has shown that Solar PV technology can be successfully implemented on a mass scale to provide rural people with climate friendly energy, light, income and health. As a result, a new sector has been developed with numerous employment opportunities which is an amazing example for the rest of the world.
For his innovation and commitment to alternative energy Mr. Barua awarded the First Zayed Future Energy Prize 2009 from Abu Dhabi, UAE as the first winner of the Prize since its introduction by Abu Dhabi Government, UAE.
Through successful implementation of SHS, Solar Street Light, Bio-Gas Plant in off-grid areas in Bangladesh BGEF has gained the experience and strength to implement renewable energy based technology for sustainable rural infrastructure development.
After a brief field study and socio economic analysis prompted us to explore the opportunity and acceptability of replacing the traditional method of water supply (both from surface and underground) through solar based Irrigation pumps.
“The farmers of Bangladesh are facing many challenges from climate change. Imbalance and insufficient rainfall and heated weather cause less productivity. The farmers are assured of irrigation for their crops, even on the most overcast days. Especially during the dry season irrigation is very necessary for cultivation. The solar irrigation pumps enable an easy installation and transition from the traditional systems.”
Talking to Bangladesh Post Dipal Chandra Barua said the BGEF has so far installed 21 Solar Irrigation Pumps in rural areas of Bangladesh till now. Around 1050 farmers are already involved with these projects with average of 50 farmers in each project and over 5000 people are getting benefits from these Solar Irrigation Pump projects.
By these SIP projects, farmers now can save around 40% of irrigation cost than Diesel run Pumps. These Solar Powered Irrigation pumps prevent the Environment Pollutions also. It directly prevents the carbon emission by replacing the Diesel run pumps.
“The systems are completely neat & clean and require less maintenance. Underground Pipelines are installed for water distribution. It prevents the waste of water and increases the growth of crops,” Mr. Barua said.
Farmers can pay the irrigation payments through 3 time installments in each season.
SIP can also contribute to the social income generation. A farmer can work as a Pump Operator for part time job besides of his other daily farming activities and can increase monthly income.
BGEF has a plan to install 500 Solar Irrigation Pumps (SIP) in different areas of Bangladesh within next few years, said the project insiders.
Grid Integration is yet another important area where Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF) is contributing to the fulfilment of country’s energy needs. Currently solar irrigation projects are covering maximum three crops seasons and still more than 50% solar power remains unused. To farming three season crops, it usually needs irrigation approximately total 6-7 months per year. So, the Pumps are remained unused for more than 5-6 months in every year. So, almost 40-50% of solar power remains unused from these pump projects.
“If we want to maximize the use of solar power over the whole year and to utilize the unused power, we need to integrate the Solar Systems of the pumps with national grid when irrigation pump is not required to run,” said Mr. Dipal C. Barua.
This approach is not only maximizing the solar utilization but also reduces financial pressure on both the farmer and sponsor as it can generate extra revenue. Grid integration of unused solar power is one cost effective approach, he added.
Nation’s First Grid Integration Project is being implemented by Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF). The project plant is situated at Kalinathpur village under the union of Satiyan in Mirpurupazila of Kushtia District. Installed in November 2019 this project has exported 10.52 MWh electricity to the National Grid so far.
This has contributed to Reducing load shedding during day time. And has become the role model of full neat & clean, pollution free, cost effective, and sustainable system for automated national grid integration with solar irrigation pumping system for Bangladesh.