As a transiting country and struggling to become a developing country Bangladesh focuses its economic interests. And the country needs energy for industrial development. So the government wants to ensure the balance of demand and supply of the energy, as a result, the government is looking for alternate sources of energy with its limited resources and technology. Currently, the government is encouraging and relying on fossil fuel based energy sources but the start to enhance renewable sources has also been started. This renewable energy project development initiatives stated the wish of government to make the country energy self-sufficient with mix source of both fossil and renewable sources of energy. This article would illustrate 5 reasons the facts of why the government should focus on renewable energy generation projects instead of relying on fossil fuel-based energy generation.
Bangladesh with its huge population and limited resources is also facing environmental hazards every year. The climate change results in internally displaced persons too, the economy of the country has affected. Bangladesh government has already planning to set up some large-scale solar power projects. The Bangladesh Economic Zone Authority (BEZA) is planning to set up a solar zone which would be the largest solar power project of Bangladesh. The organization is in talks with POWER CHINA to set up a solar power park with total capacity of1 gigawatts. BEZA is projected to develop a fourth of the capacity while POWER CHINA would likely extend the balance. The government has taken some steps to attract foreign investment in the solar power market but no major progress has been reported on those initiatives so far.[i]
Renewable energy generation projects would help to initiate and generate employment and it would also help to balance the populace pressure outside Dhaka as now everyone from other towns and cities choosing Dhaka as a source of work. Solar projects, Wind power generation projects, biogas generation projects would help the youth to diversify their capabilities. Bangladesh has potentials to develop its wind power along the districts linked to the Bay of Bengal. As an agrarian country, the opportunity to develop its biogas projects also could lead the way to go green and environment-friendly. The solar projects in small and large scale with government subsidy could change the picture of the power grid and power generation.
At present, about 72% of the total population has access to electricity, and the electricity supply is not adequately reliable. Bangladesh is one of the top climate vulnerable countries among 48 nations. It is facing the impact of climate change such as rising sea levels, an increase of salinity, heavy rainfall, floods, and landslides. As a vulnerable country, both private and public sectors of Bangladesh have taken multiple initiatives to move towards renewable electricity production to protect the environment and for better living conditions. The government has established SREDA to provide policy support and guidelines for sustainable growth of renewable energy. [ii]
Bangladesh is blessed with almost year-round sunshine and had potentials to develop solar energy projects. Bangladesh hosts the fastest growing Solar Home System program in the world with over 50,000 SHS unit installations per month in the recent past. As of 2017, Bangladesh has the world’s largest SHS program with about 5 million SHS. Over 30 million people are benefitting directly from solar energy and over 100,000 new employment have already been created.
The challenges that Bangladesh facing in developing the solar energy sector include:
- Politics has to be the choke point for a government that hinders the renewable energy projects and prospects.
- Funding and government subsidies are also lacking in renewable energy sector development.
- Resource and technological advancement is another challenge that Bangladesh is facing.
- Industries and factories demand energy-related to countries direct economy and to cope up with huge demand the easy way that is in front is fossil fuel energy sources; this is another challenge.
According to Mr Khaled Hossain; Research Associate of Bangladesh Institute of peace and security Studies; the main challenges in renewable energy sector development in Bangladesh is lacking in the clear concept of renewable energy and he also emphasizes on the concepts of triple A’s that includes; Affordability, Accessibility, Affordability, and Acceptability. The projects that are in a continuous process to develop the renewable energy sources used in everyday life are also facing challenges. Here he mentioned the projects of RahimAfroz to develop solar energy concept as an alternate energy source. But it is facing challenges as they are not able to give the facility in fewer prices and here affordability is in a question.
What government can do to enhance renewable energy sources could include:
- Creating a mix energy project primarily to meet the increased energy demand including renewable energy sources besides fossil fuel based energy production sources.
- Taking initiatives to use the country’s untapped marine resources for energy generation including tidal and wave energy besides wind energy.
- Make liaisons with international partners to enhance the projects.
The government has already taken the initiatives to enhance renewable energy uses. Most of the street lights are working in different parts of the city with the use of solar energy. Things are changing and government also showing interest towards renewable energy.
[i] BANGLADESH LINES UP 1.6 GIGAWATTS SOLAR POWER PROJECTS; Saurabh, June 25,2017;Retrieved From: http://cleantechies.com/2017/06/25/bangladesh-lines-up-1-6-gigawatts-solar-power-projects/
[ii] Bangladesh towards 100% renewable energy; Dipal Chandra Barua;August 12, 2017; Retrieved From: https://www.dhakatribune.com/tribune-supplements/tribune-climate/2017/08/12/bangladesh-towards-100-renewable-energy
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