Bangladesh, Fastest Growing Solar Energy Industry

Like many households in rural Bangladesh, Mussamat Farida has no access to public utilities. She has her own well and recently bought a solar home system; a chance to power a TV and other small appliances. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Mussamat Farida: "Now, we can watch TV, charge cell phones, play CDs and even use a fan." Bangladesh has many rivers and low lying land that make it difficult to build an extensive electric grid. The solution: solar power. Mini solar power plants light up hospitals and schools. Solar cells fuel irrigation pumps and more than 2 million households have installed individual solar panels making Bangladesh the world's fastest growing market for solar home systems. And solar power in Bangladesh means more than just convenience. Solar electricity is cheaper here than fuel for outdated machinery or kerosene for lamps. Leading to changes in long held traditions in the countryside for example, reserving the expensive kerosene lamp for boys to do their school homework. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Allauddin teacher: "In the past people were not interested in educating their daughters. It was too expensive for them they only cared about the boys. But now, using solar light, they have reduced their expenses. Now they can have both boys and girls study under the same light." Ten year old Kusum Koli Roy lives with her family in a modest home with a solar home system. Every night she studies under solar light; learning English often with the help of her father. SOUNDBITE (Bangla) Kusum Koli Roy, student ten years old: "We can study much better now. The solar lights have helped us a lot with our education." And there are plenty of girls like Kusum who now have a chance to study Bangladesh has 60,000 families installing a new solar home system every month.