Prospect of renewable energy in Bangladesh

Dr. Ahsan Alam Sarker Kishore :
Unfortunately, while the world continues to battle with a significant energy issue, emerging countries are those who are most vulnerable to its consequences.
Even though Bangladesh has done an exceptional job thus far of overcoming the effects of the Covid-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war, if the current situation persists, it may have stunted economic growth. On the good side, the fuel crisis has prompted most countries to reevaluate their energy options and may ultimately alter how people utilize energy globally.
Several nations in the globe already generate more than 20 per cent of their energy needs from renewable sources, and others produce more than 50 per cent of their electricity this way. In the upcoming days, it is anticipated that national renewable energy markets will continue to expand rapidly. It is possible and profitable for the world to switch to entirely renewable energy sources. The use of renewable energy technology has a considerable positive impact on the economy, climate change mitigation, and energy security.
Recently, Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power jointly inked a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to construct a 1,000MW solar power project in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh government has taken the essential steps to mitigate the effects of a potentially catastrophic crisis, it should be clear that the existing remedies are not long-term feasible. Thus, it is quite heartening to see the government taking action after realizing the importance of developing renewable energy options.
This is true for a nation like Bangladesh, whose fossil fuel supplies have been extremely scarce in comparison to its vast population. Bangladesh still relies significantly on imported fuels and natural gas, despite the fact that diversification of supply has always been a key component of energy security.
The government was consequently compelled to implement austerity measures including reducing daily energy production and increasing load shedding times across the country. The potential for generating extra electricity from oil and diesel today totals 7579 MW. The cost of energy from utility-scale solar PV was decreased by 85 per cent between 2010 and 2020, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s most current cost analysis.
We need the following strategic shifts for the future to tackle these challenges of arranging a sizable area of land in a single place for the construction of large-scale solar plants, it is advisable to concentrate on creating small units of 10-20 MW-sized solar plants around the country, for which suitable land will be much easier to locate.
Secondly, we need to set-up Grid-connected solar plants. Third, solar power alone won’t be enough to considerably increase the proportion of renewable energy in the energy mix, as indicated in the SDG-7 of the United Nations. The fact that renewables are becoming more and more competitive in the energy landscape has prompted the need to thoroughly evaluate all of the available renewable resources, including wind (onshore and offshore), marine energy, and biogas.
Fourth, another significant way that solar energy is used at the level of the individual consumer is through rooftop solar. It is also a financially viable option with the correct monitoring in place.
While acknowledging the need for a significant transition to renewable energy, evaluating the alternatives would be beneficial. Given that currently, oil and coal- and natural gas-powered power plants account for 41 per cent and 52 per cent, respectively, of the nation’s total capacity for power generation, which really is over 21,000 MW, the scale of the task facing policymakers is clear. Correct source and technology selections must be made in relation to renewable energy.
The Power Division recently made the admirable initiative to construct a 3 MW solar power plant with storage facilities in order to supply electricity to the distant island of Monpura in the Bhola district. Western Monpura Solar Power Ltd and the West Zone Power Distribution Company Ltd are working together to carry out the solar project. The similar actions are required.
Bangladesh has implemented a number of steps in both the public and private sectors to move toward generating renewable electricity in order to better living conditions and safeguard the environment. SREDA was founded by the government to offer guidance and policy support for the expansion of renewable energy in a sustainable manner.
Since environmental pollution is one of Bangladesh’s main problems, one of the primary advantages of renewable energy is that it doesn’t harm the planet. Fumes produced by burning fossil fuels are hazardous for both the environment and the people who live there. Bangladesh is going forward with plans to boost the adoption of cleaner and much less expensive renewable energy sources so that the energy issue won’t hinder development.
All sectors will need to work together. In order to measure the amount of power coming from solar plants and flowing to the national grid, our electric power company must first set up a net metering system. For the construction of these facilities, the government must also provide logistical support. A tax break for equipment used in solar power plants would make it much easier to build new facilities.
Bangladesh may be able to generate more than a third of its electricity demands from renewable sources by making use of the existing potentials. Bangladesh’s commitment to speed up the move to renewable energy sources is indeed positive in light of this and offers hope for a more secure future. All the relevant stakeholders alongside the governments implement this proactive plan for sustainable economic growth through green and clean energy.

(The author is Chairman, Muradnagar Upazila Parishad).