Renewable Energy Projects
IDCOL Solar Energy Programme
IDCOL promotes solar home systems (SHSs) under the Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development Project (REREDP). REREDP is being jointly financed by the IDA,Global Environment Facility (GEF),KfW,GTZ over 2002 to 2009. IDCOL’s initial target was to finance 50,000 SHSs with financial assistance from the World Bank and GEF by the end of June 2008. The target has already been achieved in September 2005, 3 years ahead of schedule and US $ 2.0 million below estimated project cost. Now IDCOL has a revised target of financing 200,000 SHSs by year 2009 with additional assistance from the World Bank, KfW and GTZ. IDCOL’s Solar Energy Programme is one of the fastest growing renewable energy programs in the world and is expected to change lives in remote rural areas of Bangladesh through providing access to electricity.
IDCOL promotes Solar Home Systems (SHSs) under REREDP through 15 partner organizations (POs) namely Grameen Shakti, BRAC Foundation, Srizony Bangladesh, COAST Trust, Thengamara Mahila Shabuj Shangha, Integrated Development Foundation, Centre For Mass Education in Science, Upokulio Bidyuatayon O Mohila Unnayan Shamity, Shubashati, Bangladesh Rural Integrated Development For Grub-Street Economy, Padakhep Manbik Unnayan Kendra, Palli Daridra Bimochan Foundation, Hilful Fuzul Samaj Kalyan Sangstha, Mukti Cox's Bazar, and Rural Services Foundation.
SHSs are sold (mostly through micro-credit) by POs to the households and business entities in the remote and rural areas of Bangladesh. IDCOL provides refinancing facility to the POs and channel grants to reduce the SHSs costs as well as support the institutional development of the POs. In addition, IDCOL also provides technical, logistic, promotional and training assistance to the POs.
250 kW Biomass Based Power Plant Project
IDCOL financed a 250 kW Biomass based power plant at Kapasia, Gazipur. IDCOL provided concessionary loans and grants to Dreams Power Private Limited (DPPL), the Project Sponsor, for setting up the plant. Total cost of this project is Tk. 2.50 crore. The plant uses locally available agricultural residues i.e. rice husk as fuel for power generation. Ankur Scientific Energy Technologies Pvt. Ltd, India is the equipment supplier of the project.
Being located in an un electrified area, the plant is expected to supply environment friendly grid quality power to 300 households and commercial entities of that area.
National Domestic Biogas and Manure Program
Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) is implementing National Domestic Biogas and Manure Programme (NDBMP) with support from GoB, SNV Netherlands and Kfw. Under the project a total of 60,000 domestic sized biogas plants will be financed during the period 2006-2009. The overall objective of the NDBMP is to further develop and disseminate domestic biogas plants in rural areas with the ultimate goal to establish a sustainable and commercial biogas sector in Bangladesh.
Gas produced through these plants is used for cooking purposes and lighting of rural households. In addition, the slurry, by-product of biogas plants, being a very good organic fertilizer is used to maintain soil fertility and increase crop production. The slurry is also used as fish feed.
A fixed dome design biogas plant is promoted under this programme. The design is basically two types; a) design for cattle dung and human excreta, and b) design for poultry droppings. Each design has 6 sizes of plants of different capacities. These sizes are 1.2, 1.6, 2.0, 2.4, 3.2 and 4.8 m3 gas production capacity. The gas produces from the last two sizes plants are used for multiple houses whereas other sizes are used for single household.
IDCOL is implementing this programme through partner organizations (PO) including private companies, NGOs, Micro finance institute (MFIs). There are 4 types of POs: (a) Construction Partner Organizations (CPOs), (b) Lending Partner Organizations (LPOs), (c) Lending and Construction partner Organizations (LCPOs) and (d) Manufacturing Partner Organization (MPOs). At present 19 POs are implementing NDBMP.
The programme is being implemented in all the districts of Bangladesh. IDCOL provides Taka 7,000 as investment subsidy to the biogas households who install biogas plants as per the specifications and standard set by IDCOL/SNV. IDCOL is also providing refinance covering 80% of the LPOs and LCPOs loan to households at 6% interest rate and 7 year tenor with 1 year grace period. Total project cost is estimated as EUR 23.61 million and will be borne by individual households, SNV, KfW and GOB.