Australia eyes BD’s clean energy market for investment
Australia is looking to deepen its clean energy engagement with Bangladesh by channeling private investment, transferring advanced technologies, and forging long-term commercial partnerships across renewable energy generation, battery storage systems, electric mobility, and clean technology manufacturing.
Australian government officials and industry representatives spotlighted these emerging market opportunities at a high-level seminar titled “Australian Clean Energy Co-operation,” held at the Westin in Dhaka today.
The strategic dialogue convened Australian trade delegates, renewable energy firms, Bangladeshi policymakers, corporate leaders, and financial institution executives to chart pathways for robust bilateral commercial collaboration.
Speaking at the event, Australian Deputy High Commissioner Clinton Pobke noted that while Bangladesh has made remarkable strides in expanding grid connectivity and infrastructure to support rapid economic growth, meeting surging future energy demand in a secure, affordable, and sustainable manner remains a critical national priority.
He welcomed Bangladesh’s Renewable Energy Policy 2025, which establishes ambitious national targets to source 20 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 40 percent by 2041.
With renewable sources currently accounting for approximately five percent of total installed capacity, Pobke emphasized that vast commercial potential exists for Australian enterprises specializing in rooftop solar, net-metering, grid-scale battery storage, electric vehicle charging infrastructure, and floating solar installations.
He also pointed to the untapped potential for installing solar panels on underused land within tea plantations, opening another innovative avenue for expanding green generation.
He stressed that Australia’s extensive transition experience in grid integration, system security, and workforce development can be effectively adapted to align with Bangladesh’s local conditions and development priorities.
Echoing similar sentiments, Jody McKay, Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), stated that the visiting delegation’s objective extends far beyond equipment export to establishing permanent commercial footprints via joint ventures, local manufacturing and assembly hubs, engineering services, and research collaborations.
The participating Australian companies bring specialized expertise in solar photovoltaic systems, battery technologies, electrical safety, energy modeling, and renewable energy project development.
Australia-Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ABCCI) President M. Maksud urged stakeholders to transition from conventional buyer-seller arrangements toward robust investment partnerships encompassing green financing, local capacity building, and joint manufacturing of clean technologies.
Such partnerships can help Australian companies access Bangladesh’s growing clean energy market while strengthening local industrial capabilities and generating skilled employment, he noted.
The seminar also highlighted opportunities for Australian expertise in battery energy storage systems, microgrids, and intelligent energy management technologies to support Bangladesh’s grid stability as renewable generation expands.
Electric mobility was identified as another high-potential area of cooperation, particularly in developing charging networks, battery management systems, and local vehicle assembly capabilities.
John Grimes, Chief Executive of the Renewable Energy Council Asia Pacific (RECAP), urged Australian companies to adopt a collaborative approach to the Bangladesh market, encouraging them to work together to develop opportunities that benefit the wider clean energy industry.
The Australia Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry reaffirmed its commitment to connecting businesses, financial institutions, and regulators in both countries to facilitate seamless commercial partnerships, underscoring Australia’s growing role in Bangladesh’s sustainable energy transition.
