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Affordable Technologies

Technology We Developed

Solar lamps generating night-time activities

Some 80 percent of country's population of 140 million lack regular access to electricity. Shidhulai boats use onboard solar photovoltaic modules to generate all the electricity needed. Shidhulai distributes the surplus energy among the families of fishermen cum farmers through solar lamps.

The manufacturing cost of solar lamp is only US $5-10 and the fabrication, installation, repairs and maintenance is being carried out entirely by Shidhulai. Shidhulai has developed three different types of solar lamps:

+ Portable solar home system

+ Converted hurricane lantern

+ LED lantern

Portable solar home system is consist of one 4 Ah 6 V battery, LED made table and wall lamps, wiring and fixtures. The battery is also used to charge the mobile phones. The lamp batteries are charged at charging stations of boat school, library and training boats. The children or female members bring their batteries to re-charge on the boats once in a week.

Solar system on boats sharing surplus energy

PV modules are installed on the roofs of the boats, providing between 200 Wp, 600 Wp and 1-2 kWp of power, depending on the electrical demand. The PV modules charge an array of lead-acid batteries through a charge controller, which prevents the battery from being over-charged or deep-discharged, and also include an inverter to convert dc power to ac, thus allowing the use of the electrical equipment on the boat. Boats have PV-powered lighting, using LED lamps. The installation and maintenance of the PV systems are done entirely by Shidhulai’s own trained engineer and technicians. Shidhulai also manufactures charge controller and battery charger for the solar system on boats.

Designed/converted boats for delivering services to remotest regions

The boats provide maximum flexibility and can reach villagers that, for logistical, social, or cultural reasons, could not access a permanent institution. The boats are especially designed by Shidhulai to adjust to any equipment configuration as well as to protect the electronic equipment from inclement weather, even during the height of the monsoon. The boats are also outfitted with multi-layered waterproof roofs and there are side windows that are opened for ventilation. A metal truss takes the weight of the roof, so the interior is not obstructed by pillars, allowing the accommodation to be made spacious and comfortable. The boats are all built in the region, using locally available materials. Flat plank floor allows some boats to glide through the flooded land and shallow water.

Technology We Adopted

Bicycle powered pumps reducing CO2 emissions and improving income

The bicycle-powered pump is designed for small-scale irrigation and is very cheap, so it brings particular benefits to landless farmers who cultivate on the land of others. The pump is cycle-operated, consisting of two pistons of an ordinary twin cylinder pump connected to a crankshaft. It has a flywheel on one end and a chain sprocket on the other end. The crankshaft is powered through a chain sprocket from the pedal of the bicycle, which is rotated by foot of the operator seating on the seat like driving a bicycle. The capacity of this pump is 60-100 liters/min with one laborer at a time with a command area is 0.50 acre/day.

The bicycle pumps are manufactured at the local workshops and Shidhulai offices in the rural villages and the manufacturing cost is US $50. About 70% of the pumps have been provided to farmers who had not previously been able to afford any irrigation pump.

Technology We Transferred

The components of boat project is replicated nationally and internationally by community based organizations, NGOs and international organization.

Shidhulai Swanirvar Sangstha is working with Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) to solar electrify GKs school-healthcare centers in southern Bangladesh. Also GK is distributing Shidhulai’s LED lantern among its school-healthcare center users. GK is the second largest healthcare service provider in the country followed by the Government.

Recently Care Bangladesh and Grameenphone replicated boat project. They are working with four boats in southern Bangladesh.

Related Info

Grameenphone CSR News: ‘Grameenphone to launch Information Boat’, December 28, 2007