PUREP Bangladesh

Project period

March 2016 until December 2019

Project management

DGS - LV Berlin Brandenburg e.V.

Funding organisations

Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW)

Project description

Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. Many people there have no access to electricity. To address this problem, around 4 million small solar home systems have been installed in recent years, financed by various donors around the world. Now the Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), together with the government of Bangladesh and the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), which is based in Dhaka, has launched a programme called PUREP. This programme provides grants to support the construction of the following 3 systems: PV mini-grids, solar-powered pumping systems and medium-scale biogas systems for power generation.

The Franconia-based consulting firm „Integration“ has won the KfW tender. DGS Berlin is acting as the key expert for the photovoltaic systems. Work on the project began in March 2016 and the entire project is scheduled to run for up to four years. The objectives of the project are as follows:

• Bids are normally submitted for all three technical systems, which are then evaluated by IDCOL. This process is to be improved and accelerated.
• The economic efficiency of the projects implemented is to be improved.
• Environmental and social aspects should be given greater consideration. This applies in particular to battery systems used in mini-grids.
• The quality of the components and the quality of installation and maintenance should be improved. This is a challenge given the environmental conditions (storms, rainy season, salty air), but it can be solved.

The first workshop took place on 19 and 20 May 2016 in Dhaka. Many interviews were conducted with IDCOL managers and companies and institutions from Bangladesh that are active in the three areas. The results of the workshop are currently being analysed, training courses for IDCOL staff are being prepared and preparations are being made for the first round of tenders in early 2017.

As of May 2016, 7 PV mini-grids had been installed, 11 were being built and 29 were in the preparation phase.

Of the solar-powered pumping systems, 123 have been installed, 113 have been approved by IDCOL and are being prepared for construction.