GS believes that biogas technology is one of the best means to provide natural gas to the largest number of rural people. It can provide them with pollution free, efficient energy for cooking and at the same time protect them from diseases by giving them a cleaner environment. Biogas technology can be used to implement a sustainable waste management program suitable for rural areas, as wastes of all sorts are transformed into biogas or slurry.

GS has been successful in promoting and constructing both domestic and larger sizes biogas plants to rural villagers. Impact on biogas plant owners has been positive and demand is increasing day by day. All its clients are enjoying hassle free and pollution free energy for cooking and business activities. Bangladesh has the potential for developing 4 million biogas plants. GS intends to further scale up its successful pilot project and develop a 5 year action plan for expanding biogas program in Bangladesh.

GS has developed an integrated and sustainable model for expanding biogas program. The program is based on market approach. GS plays the role of a facilitator, not of a provider. GS does not provide any subsidies, but arranges for soft loans. GS depends on the goodwill of the community for its success. Key features of the program are:

GS has signed agreement with two organizations to manufacture and promote organic fertilizers. This is the first step towards the implementation of GS’s goal to provide Bangladeshi farmers with environment friendly, high quality organic fertilizers. GS hopes to sign similar agreement with more organizations in the future. Manufacture and marketing of organic fertilizers can be a viable business in the context of Bangladesh. A 3,m3 cow dung based biogas plant can produce more than 8 thousand kilograms of slurry which is equivalent to 224 kg of urea, 1120 kg of TSP and 114 kg of mp fertilizer. An entrepreneur can earn Tk 16, 000 from selling this slurry at a minimum rate of Tk 2 per kg.

After the training phase, Grameen Shakti plans to undertake large-scale manufacturing of chimneys, metal grates and sell these on credit via the entrepreneurs to households and businesses. It is expected that that there will be substantial demand for improved cook stoves among households and businesses due to reduced fuel costs, ease of cooking and cleaner kitchen environments. GS plans to construct 10,000 commercial and domestic improved cook stoves over the next 3 years.

Nearly 20 thousand people each year are installing SHSs all over Bangladesh for business or household purposes. GS alone plans to install one million SHSs by 2015. GS envisages a future where there would be a huge demand for SHS accessories as well as maintenance services to keep the installed SHSs in working order.

GS plans to use the GTCs to meet the projected demand for repair/maintenance services and SHS accessories at affordable costs. The planned GTCs will train a minimum of 1000 women technicians and use them to produce the accessories. They will also strengthen and expand the back-up services at the local level. GS will also use the GTCs to train 5, 000 women members from the user households. GS feels they will be able to look after the SHSs because in Bangladesh, women are responsible for managing household activities.

After completion of the first year, GS has set up 17 GTCs which have trained around 240 women technicians, nearly 300 women from user families and 1000 school children on renewable energy technologies. If the pilot program is successful GS plans to set up 105 GTCs by 2010. These GTCs will act as resource centers for developing renewable energy entrepreneurs at the local level. These resource centers will help to adapt renewable energy technologies to the Bangladeshi context and then pilot test them for and commercialization. At the same time, these GTCs will train renewable energy entrepreneurs and link them up with different technical and financial institutions.

Grameen Shakti is conducting research to utilize wind energy in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. GS installed 4 hybrid power stations (combination of wind turbine and diesel generator) in four cyclone shelters of Grameen Bank.The power generated from the wind turbines is connected to the four cyclone shelters. Three of which are Grameen Bank branches and one exclusively used as a cyclone shelter. Appliances powered with this system are light, Fan, water pump etc.

The present phase of the program will allow Shakti to gather financial and technological information for possible future expansion in other places.

Grameen Shakti (GS) has taken the step to empower people with modern technology. That is why it launched a computer education program from 2000. The main objectives of this program is to increase the awareness of ICT among the rural people who have no opportunity to learn about computers due to the absence of grid electricity. With the help PV system GS has started this mission for the remote rural people. Shakhipur Computer Training Center is an example of such a centre

These centers create enthusiasm among different groups of people like students, teachers, professionals, businessmen, self-employed, farmers, and shopkeepers.