JBS Vol 03. Num 2. 2001 - THE SOLAR HOME SYSTEM: AN ALTERNATE ENERGY SOURCE FOR RURAL HOUSEHOLDS IN BANGLADESH

If electricity is made more widely available to a greater number of households and commercial enterprises, it has
significant potential of enhancing economic and social development. A technology that could serve remote rural
households is the photovoltaic (PV) panel or solar home system (SHS) These systems are particularly suitable and
convenient for the widely dispersed households whose combined load needs are too small to justify grid-based
systems. This study examines the factors that explain the adoption and diffusion of SHSs as an alternative
electrification strategy for rural Bangladesh. The findings suggest that price is a key variable along with convenience
of use, safety, and the availability of support services to make the SHS an attractive alternative to the traditional
sources of rural energy