Original Coverage & Source Attribution: www.dogonews.com
For millions of people living in remote villages across Bangladesh, electricity is still hard to get. These communities are far from existing power lines, making it difficult to bring electricity to their homes. Some residents use their own solar panels. However, many low-income families cannot afford the high cost of buying and installing them. To solve this problem, a startup called SOLshare has come up with an innovative solution. The company has built a system that allows neighbors to sell their extra solar power to nearby homes.
The idea of selling excess solar power came from the residents themselves. Homes with solar panels often made more electricity than they needed, especially on sunny afternoons. Instead of letting the extra power go to waste, some villagers ran extension cords to nearby homes without electricity. They kept track of how much electricity their neighbors used and collected payment the next morning.
To make this system easier and more reliable, SOLshare developed a smart meter. The device is installed in each participating home. It helps record how much electricity is shared and the amount each neighbor needs to pay.
SOLshare also provides other clean energy solutions. The company installs rooftop solar systems for businesses and has developed rechargeable battery systems for electric rickshaws. These three-wheeled vehicles are widely used to carry passengers and goods across Bangladesh.
Looking ahead, SOLshare plans to help more communities across Asia and Africa build clean energy networks. The company hopes its technology will make it easier for people to share and access reliable electricity.
Resources: Fastcompany.com, solshare.com
