Improved Cook Stove (ICS)

The objective of ICS Program is to reduce Green House Gas (GHG) emission as well as to reduce the use of solid cooking fuel in order to ensure reduction of Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) and related health hazards especially for women and children through promotion of higher efficiency cook stoves. ICS contributes to safer environment. Started in December 2013 with the collaboration of Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL).

 

Under the program three types of higher efficiency improved ICS models are promoted on market-based approach. RHECO provides home delivery and after sales services to the clients through production and marketing centers located in every cluster.

Main Feature of the Improve Cooking Stove (ICS)

1. 50% Fuel saving.

2. Reduce the smoke and thus protect the indoor environment.

3. Thermally efficient so the temperature of the kitchen remains comparatively Low.

 

Sofar RHECO has constructed 1,46,125 pcsICS (Improved Cooking Stove) via the IDCOL project

RHECO has been implementing Biogas & Bio-Fertilizer program since 2016 working with Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL). The objective of Biogas and Bio-fertilizer is to reduce use of biomass fuel for cooking, emission of CO2 and chemical fertilizer and thus helps reduce environmental degradation. The financial and government support of IDCOL has been able to build 185 Jhenaidah, 42 Magura, 27 Bogra and 254 plants since 2016.

In the remote off-grid areas of Bangladesh, the number of irrigation pumps powered by diesel is quite high. The price volatility and difficult transportation of diesel undoubtedly put heavy burden on the farmers. The Government of Bangladesh has been trying to address the issue recently by showing sincere inclination towards sustainable agriculture via promoting the use of solar powered irrigation pumps. IDCOL has already started implementing solar irrigation pump projects in many areas and aims to install 50,000 such systems by 2025. However, solar irrigation pump systems tend to remain under-utilized over a significant portion of a year, especially during lengthy monsoon season. If arrangements can be made to supply electricity from these systems into the national grid during off-season, path will open up to exploit the untapped potential. Recent statistics from the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) suggests that the number of diesel-run irrigation pumps has risen even higher and has reached 1.34 million (SREDA, 2017). The difficulty in transporting diesel to the fields and the inconsistency of supply at times make the farmers dependent on intermediaries, which then results in the increased price of diesel and the overall cost of irrigation and food production. 19% of the remaining irrigation units are powered by electricity from the national grid, which adds additional strain on the electricity infrastructure. The country is still faced with acute power shortages on a daily basis and the additional demand for electricity from the national grid exacerbates the situation. Most of these electricity-run irrigation pumps have to be operated at night. Regardless of the fuel used for irrigation; i.e., diesel and electricity, the existing pumps are responsible for a sizeable contribution in the country’s fossil fuel consumption and total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This scenario demonstrates the significant potential for utilizing renewable energy technologies, especially solar photovoltaic powered irrigation pumps in the agricultural sector of Bangladesh.