Renewable energy prospects in Bangladesh

Prof Dr Ahmad Kamruzzaman Majumder and Mahmuda Islam :

The densely populated South Asian nation, Bangladesh has experienced a severe energy crisis in the last year. The electricity demand is increasing rapidly, but the supply is insufficient to meet the population’s requirements. Till now Bangladesh is mostly dependent on fossil fuel for energy source which has harmful environmental impacts, limited availability, price volatility, geopolitical tension and can cause health hazards and habitat destruction. In this scenario, renewable energy can be the solution to this crisis. These renewable energy sources are eco-friendly and low-carbon. Bangladesh also possesses a vast renewable energy potential due to its ample sunlight, wind, and water.
The government has already taken several measures toward cleaner and more sustainable energy. Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100, Vision 2041, Mujib Climate Prosperity Plan and upcoming Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) convey this national optimism. However, renewable energy use is still insufficient in this country. At present, 3.7 per cent of all energy sources come from renewable sources, of which approximately 75 per cent (or 2.8 per cent of all energy sources) comes from solar. Bangladesh has 5163 solar projects which are used mostly for solar irrigation, and street lights. The total capacity of these projects is 2594.815 MWp. BPDB offices are installing Solar Roof Top Systems nationwide; 223 kWp solar PV systems have been deployed, while 407 kWp are being planned/implemented. There is also an increasing trend of Solar Home Systems (SHS) in rural areas, offering access to electricity for remote communities not connected to the main grid. In case of on-grid energy the scenario is bit gloomy. As of 2023, only 359 MW is coming from 9 solar power plants.
Bangladesh has three wind energy projects functioning, two in progress, and seven in planning. The running projects are 1000 kW Capacity Wind Battery Hybrid Power Plant and another 1000 kW Capacity Wind Battery Hybrid Power Plant in Kutubdia Upazila of Cox’s Bazar and 0.9 MW Grid Connected Wind Turbine Power Plant at Mahuri Dam in Feni. Though wind energy is only viable in coastal, offshore, riverside, and other open areas with strong winds, a report on the renewables technical capacity by Coastal Development Partnership (CDP) funded by Bread for the World of Germany estimated the potential for wind energy is to be 150 GW. Therefore, there is a need for further investment in wind energy projects, including the development of appropriate technologies, grid integration, and policy frameworks to promote wind energy development.
Bangladesh’s only hydroelectric project is Kaptai. It was completed in 1988 and hydropower capacity has remained stable over the past decade, increasing marginally from 220 megawatts in 2012 to 230 megawatts in 2021. Bangladesh has numerous rivers and water bodies, offering potential for small-scale hydroelectricity projects. At present eight off-grid biogas electric projects are functioning, with three more on-grid are planned with a total capacity of 49.5 MWp. One of these projects is for Dhaka, which might significantly alter the city’s energy demands. Besides, as of 2021, there were an estimated 9 million small scale biogas plants in Bangladesh, producing organic fertilizer and meeting the cooking fuel needs of millions of households. This country has only one 400KWp biomass plant. Bangladesh has a large agricultural sector, and bioenergy derived from crop residues, animal manure.
Bangladesh promised to meet the Climate Vulnerable Forum’s goal of a renewable energy-only economy by mid-century and limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. For that the government of Bangladesh is formulating all of its policies taking into consideration the renewable energy.
A major challenge for renewable energy in Bangladesh is the high initial costs linked to the installation and development of infrastructure. While the costs of renewable energy technologies, such as solar panels and wind turbines, have decreased over the years, they still require significant upfront investment compared to traditional fossil fuel-based energy systems. That’s a challenge, particularly for low-income communities and small entrepreneurs who may not have the capital to invest in renewable energy projects. Access to funding for renewable energy projects in Bangladesh remains limited in particular for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and rural communities.
Mainstreaming renewable energy into the existing electricity grid is a crucial challenge for Bangladesh. The country’s electricity system still relies heavily on fossil fuels, and the infrastructure to integrate renewable energy is limited. It is therefore difficult to make efficient use of the renewable energy produced and to inject it into the network, which could lead to a waste of energy. Bangladesh is facing technical capacity challenges and expertise in renewable energy technologies. Skilled manpower is required in sectors such as installing, operating, and maintaining renewable energy systems. Therefore, building capacity through education, training and skills development programs is critical to overcome this challenge and ensure the effective operation of renewable energy projects.
Although Bangladesh has policies and regulations in place to promote renewable energy, their implementation and enforcement remains challenging. Renewable energy projects, such as large-scale solar and wind farms, can have environmental and social impacts, including land use disputes, displacement of communities, and ecosystem disturbance. The general public’s lack of awareness and understanding of renewable energy may be a challenge. Awareness campaigns and educational programs are needed to promote the benefits of renewable energy and to encourage behavior change towards more sustainable energy use practices.

(The writers are Environmental Science teachers at Stamford University Bangladesh).