Grameen Swapna

There are 1.4 billion people worldwide living without access to electricity.3 Most of these people rely on expensive and polluting kerosene lamps and candles to see at night. The World Health Organization has determined that individuals breathing kerosene fumes and soot inhale the equivalent of smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. More than 85 million people of Bangladesh are living without access to electricity. Bangladesh is going to face a tremendous challenge in providing electricity. In this circumstance emphasis to be put on Solar Home System which is very much effective and beneficial to the people of the off grid area where there is no supply of electricity.

Grameen Swapna promotes dissemination of solar home system (SHS) in the remote rural areas of Bangladesh. Rural electrification through solar PV technology is becoming more popular, day by day in Bangladesh. Solar Home Systems (SHSs) are highly decentralized and particularly suitable for remote, inaccessible areas. Grameen Swapna’s solar program mainly targets those areas, which have no access to conventional electricity. Grameen Swapna is also promoting Small Solar Home System to reach low income rural households.

Grameen Swapna Solar Home System (SHS) can be used to light up homes, shops, fishing boats etc. It can also be used to charge cellular phones, run televisions, radios and cassette players. Total no. of 5690 solar home system (SHS) has been installed in 5690 household. This project is becoming a popular program among the poor and mid-level families considering the low cost and climate friendly pollution free environment in remote chars and islands. SHSs have become increasingly popular among users because they present an attractive alternative to conventional electricity such as no monthly bills, no fuel cost, very little repair, maintenance costs, easy to install anywhere etc.

Grameen Swapna installed Solar Home System (SHS) have made a positive impact on the rural people. GS has introduced micro-utility model in order to reach the poorer people who cannot afford a Solar Home System individually. GS has developed an effective strategy for reaching people in remote and rural areas with solar PV technology. It involves:

Soft credit through installments which makes SHSs affordable
• The user has to pay 15% of the total price as down payment. The remaining 85% of the total cost is to be repaid within 36 months with 6% (flat rate) service charges.
• The customer has to pay 25% of the total price as down payment. The remaining 75% of the cost is to be repaid within 24 months with 4% (flat rate) service charge.
• Micro-utility: The customer has to pay 10% of the total price as down payment. The remaining 90% of the loan amount is to be repaid by 42 installments. There is no service charge.
• 4% discount is allowed on printed price in case of cash purchase.

Advocacy and Promotion
• Demonstrations, door to door visits
• Meeting with village leaders, distributing brochures
• Science fairs at the local level
• Buyback system

Community involvement and social acceptance
• Free monthly Solar Home system checkups during payments of installment.
• Post warranty service through annual maintenance contact with Grameen Swapna for solar home systems.
• Inclusive warranty system plus a buy back system under which a buyer may return his system to Grameen Swapna when his area gets connected to the grid.
• Training of users and technicians so that they can take care of their systems.

Effective after sales service
• Free monthly checkups during payments of installment.
• Post warranty service through annual maintenance contact with Grameen Sweapna for solar home systems.
• Inclusive warranty system plus a buy back system under which a buyer may return his system to Grameen Swapna when his area gets connected to the grid.
• Training of users and technicians so that they can take care of their systems.