Drivers, enablers, and barriers to prosumerism in Bangladesh: A sustainable solution to energy poverty?

The concept of prosumers is well-established in the literature, but the role of a functioning prosumer in the least developed world has not yet been clarified. This paper attempts to show how prosumerism has evolved in Bangladesh, a pioneer, least developed country. It provides an insight into a functional prosumer-based renewable off-grid direct current (DC) network from the socioeconomic point of view, also reveals an operational peer-to-peer electricity trading system within this network. Prosumerism and its diverse impacts on the rural community are discussed. Along with the positive evolution of prosumerism, some barriers, drivers and enablers are explained with examples. Some negative impacts are also anticipated, but these can be overcome by implementing proper procedures in well-defined stages. Results show that prosumerism can improve the quality of life and greater socioeconomic awareness in least developed countries like Bangladesh. Prosumerism can be adopted in other similar countries by making long-term plans and learning from existing implementation in order to attain global sustainability. In addition, difficulties can be avoided with better planning and through commitment to research, aiming to improve general living standards.