A field survey was conducted among 218 beneficiaries in seven districts (Barisal, Dhaka, Dinajpur, Thakurgaon, Manikganj, Sirajganj, and Shariatpur) of Bangladesh, covering private households, commercial businesses, and rural farmings. The demographics of the survey are presented in Table 1. The beneficiaries of three types of solar-based technologies were chosen: SHSs, solar mini-grids, and solar irrigation pumps. All SHS and solar mini-grid beneficiaries had various amounts of lighting, cooling (only fan), and phone-charging loads. Only 53 have televisions, 3 have computers, and 97 have refrigerators at their premises. The beneficiaries of solar irrigation projects use underground water using the submersible multistage centrifugal motor pumps powered by solar PV systems. These were used to diesel-run pumps before switching to the solar PV-based irrigation system.
A questionnaire was designed to assess key issues that fall under three primary criteria: economic, technical, and social. An Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP)-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) mechanism has been utilized to study the insights of the grid-connected and renewable energy systems that electrify their premises or provide energy for farming the lands [7]. MCDA is a process that can combine all the diverse viewpoints to propose a comprehensive solution. There are various MCDA methods that can solve energy-related problems, which deal with multiple objectives associated with multiple numbers of resources [7]. AHP is one such method for organizing and analysing complex decisions, using math and psychology. AHP provides a rational framework for a needed decision by quantifying its criteria and alternative options and relating those elements to the overall goal [8].
All the beneficiaries were asked to score the given criteria and sub-criteria, using the Saaty scale [9]. Using the Saaty scale (1 to 9), a user can express the intensity of importance of one criterion/parameter over the other (pairwise comparison). For example, a user can express ‘extreme importance’ intensity using 9 and ‘equal importance’ using 1, while 3 represents ‘moderate importance’, 5 represents ‘strong importance’, and 7 represents ‘very strong importance’. The pairwise comparison is the cornerstone of AHP, as it allows the decision-maker to temporarily focus on only two alternatives or criteria at a time. To calculate priorities, the individual preference is expressed on a verbal scale and then converted to the numerical value using the Saaty scale.
Table 1: Survey Demographic
Category
|
Male
|
Female
|
Households
|
106
|
58
|
Commercial Businesses
|
44
|
0
|
Solar Irrigation Pump Users
|
10
|
0
|
Total
|
160
|
58
|