Renewable energy
Akij sets up rooftop solar plant with Huawei's technology
Akij Group recently set up its first rooftop solar plant at Janata Jute Mill in Boalmari, Faridpur.
Chinese telecom giant Huawei provided technical solutions and support to this initial 470 KW project along with the engineering procurement construction partner Cynergy.
"Bangladesh should now turn its attention to renewable energy as this is where the future lies. We should set a goal to generate 100 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2025," Akij Group Managing Director Sheikh Bashir Uddin said.
Read: Self-reliance in seed production essential for food security: FBCCI
Jason Li, board member of Huawei Bangladesh, said: "Huawei wants to empower the energy sector of Bangladesh by increasing efficiency with its extraordinary digital power solutions as we are working here for building a fully connected, intelligent Bangladesh."
Why solar power investors are in no man's land
Land, capital and labour are key to any economic venture. But investors in Bangladesh's renewable energy sector claim that finding land for setting up a business is their biggest challenge.
This, they say, is gradually turning out to be a major hindrance to setting up green power projects in this country -- particularly at this juncture when the government is focussing on low-cost renewable energy in view of the country’s climate change commitments.
Investors say it's high time that the government leased out land in char (island) areas for a minimum of 25 years to private players waiting to employ capital for a green and clean Bangladesh.
This would also help Bangladesh meet its commitment to generate 25% of its total power from renewable sources by 2030 and 40% by 2050.
Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) figures show that the government has undertaken a total of 47 grid-connected large solar power projects in the past 10 years. But so far, only seven of them have been implemented.
Sreda officials say that any solar power plant would require three times more land than the conventional power projects, "but undisputed land seems to be have become a scare resource in Bangladesh these days".
In the past few years, many local and foreign investors have expressed interest in setting up green power plants. "But even after getting an approval, several of them have not been able to acquire land for their dream projects," says an official.
According to former Sreda member Siddique Zobair, when an investor fails to acquire adequate land for a project, their financers also withdraw themselves from the scheme. "No agency wants to take the risk of financing a project having no land."
Scatec Solar, a European investor wanting to set up a 50 MW plant at Nilphamari, for instance, had to finally abandon a project, he says.
Dipal Chandra Barua, the president of the Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), concurs.
"it will be very easy to generate 5,000 MW of solar power if the government steps in to arrange land in the char areas on lease. It will reduce the cost of power generation from solar energy as well," he says.
Munawar Misbah Moin, president of the Solar Module Manufacturers Association of Bangladesh (SMMAB), says that leasing out land in char areas will definitely play a vital role in scaling up efforts for implementing solar power projects.
"Many countries, including neighbouring India, are now emphasising on renewable energy from a climate change perspective, which Bangladesh should follow by setting up more solar power plants that are very environment-friendly," he asserts.
Also read: Govt exploring rooftop, floating solar power for scarcity of lands: Nasrul
Bangladesh currently holds the presidency of the Climate Vulnerable Forum and gives the lead in the global campaign for promoting all efforts towards urgently reinforcing climate and economic resilience.
Bangladesh seeks IRENA’s support to explore renewable energy potential
Bangladesh has sought IRENA’s technical and financial support in undertaking the feasibility study and mapping of the renewable energy potentials in Bangladesh.
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen discussed the issue during a meeting with Francesco La Camera, Director General of International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at its headquarters in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Dr Momen mentioned offshore wind resource assessment with detailed feasibility study and pilot project on Solar-Wind-Storage Hybrid Power System in Bhasan Char Island where a large number of Rohingyas have been relocated.
He also mentioned about the Grid Modernization Strategy and Storage roadmap for Bangladesh to integrate large scale Variable Renewable Energy.
Read: Bangladesh seeks investment from expatriate business community in UAE
Dr Momen reiterated Bangladesh’s all out support to encourage innovative and affordable application of renewable technologies.
Appreciating the remarkable works done by IRENA under the leadership of the Director General in advancing the renewable energy agenda, the Foreign Minister expressed Bangladesh’s full support to IRENA and its works with a view to encouraging innovative and affordable application of renewable technologies.
Govt aims for 10% electricity from renewables by 2025
The 8th Five Year Plan contains various plans to meet a target of generating 10 percent of total electricity from renewable energy by 2025.
Greater involvement of the private sector is encouraged towards fulfilling the government's renewable energy policy in the document.
Considering the dwindling gas reserves in the country, the use of coal as an alternative fuel in power generation is not ruled out.
The document mentioned that the importance of the power sector is immense in the socio- economic development of the country and in improving the living standards of the people.
“The government is giving top priority to the development of the power sector.”
The budgetary allocations for the power and energy sector as projected in the document for the 2023-24 fiscal is Tk 305.26 billion, while the projection for 2022-23 fiscal is Tk 289.62 billion and it is Tk 274.84 billion in the running 2021-22 fiscal.
READ: Electricity demand may reach 15,500 MW this year during irrigation season
The allocation for the sector in the 2018-19, 2019-20 and 2020-21 fiscals was Tk 344.04 billion, Tk 331.32 billion and Tk 237.77 billion respectively.
The document stated that the government is working to ensure quality and uninterrupted supply of electricity to all at a reasonable cost through integrated development of power generation, transmission and distribution sectors.
To ensure balanced power supply, the government has already formulated short, medium and long term plans and taken up various programs to improve the current state of power generation.
The 'Power System Master Plan 2016' has been formulated for the development of the power sector.
Under this plan, the government is working to achieve the target of generating 40,000 MW by 2030 and 60,000 MW by 2041.
The official document said that the government is implementing new plans to generate electricity based on coal, diesel-furnace oil, nuclear power and renewable energy by solving the existing problem of power generation through gas-fired power plants.
Research and development in this sector will continue to encourage innovation for efficient use of energy and power, it said.
At present, the country has a power generation capacity of 22,023 MW (including captive and renewable), and is in the process of setting up another 38 power plants with a combined capacity of a further 14,115 MW.
At present only about 722 MW of electricity is being generated from renewable sources. The government has taken steps to develop renewable energy with future energy security in mind.
As the socio-economic condition of the country improves, the demand for energy is also increasing rapidly. Natural gas is an important energy resource of Bangladesh, which supplies most of the country's total commercial energy.
Therefore, onshore and offshore seismic survey activities are being conducted on a large scale for domestic gas exploration.
There are currently 27 discovered gas fields in the country, of which 20 are in production.
In order to build a sustainable energy supply system, initiatives have been taken to reduce energy consumption, that is to say make efficiency gains, of upto 20 percent by 2030. The Power Division has taken steps to generate additional power by conserving, repairing and increasing efficiency of old power plantsInitiatives have also been taken to install pre-paid gas meters to prevent gas wastage and increase energy efficiency.
Meanwhile, two lakh pre-paid gas meters have been installed in the Dhaka metropolis and 60,000 in the Chattogram area.
During the period of 2020-23, there are plans to install 120,000 pre-paid gas meters in the Dhaka metropolitan area, 50,000 in Jalalabad gas-affiliated areas and 300,000 in the Chattogram area.
Two floating storage and re-gasification units (FSRUs) with a capacity of about 1000 million cubic feet per day have been set up at Maheshkhali through which about 600 million cubic feet of LNG are being supplied daily to the national gas grid.
READ: 25% electricity from renewables by 2030: SREDA proposes, GOB disposes?
To meet the growing demand for energy through import of fuel, projects such as taking oil directly from deep sea through pipeline, and supply of
oil from Chattogram to Dhaka through pipeline are being implemented.
The government has also planned to build a land- based LNG terminal at Payra in Patuakhali under the medium-term budget framework, the official document stated.
EU expresses interest to work on renewable energy in Bangladesh
European Union has expressed its interest in working with Bangladesh on renewable energy, green transition, smart grid and regional cooperation with Nepal and Bhutan by providing grants or loans.
This interest was expressed by Charles Whiteley, the ambassador of the EU, when he met with State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid at his office in the ministry on Monday.
According to a release of the ministry, the EU envoy also showed interest to finance the renewable energy project, specially power generation from solar and wind.
READ: Renewable energy: Government urged to allocate specific budget, set target
Welcoming the interest, Nasrul said Bangladesh wants intensely to work with EU nations.
“We can work together in clean energy, digitalization of distribution segments, smart meters, underground cable and modernization of the energy sector,” he said.
He urged the EU envoy to share the European experience to upgrade the Bangladesh Power Management Institute to an international standard training institute.
READ: Bangladesh keen to work with Sweden in renewable energy sector: Nasrul
He said demands for power and energy are increasing due to growing development activities. Bangladesh wants to invest in Nepal and Bhutan to generate hydro power.
The EU can participate in projects in this sector, he said, underscoring the need for coordinated work through a joint team to identify the areas.
Bangladesh bets big on wind energy to curb climate change
Bangladesh aims to significantly expand renewable energy sources in its total energy mix in its relentless pursuit of a net-zero carbon footprint.
As one of the key steps in this regard, the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) has set a target of generating 5,000 MW of onshore and offshore wind power by 2030.
Wind energy is power obtained from the force of wind using turbines. The country currently generates only 2.9 MW of wind power.
Read Bangladesh going for green energy to mitigate climate change impact: Minister
According to Sreda officials, the huge target is being considered as an immediate option for the next few years in compliance with the government’s commitment to promoting renewable energy -- given the fact that an American agency recently pegged the country’s wind power generation potential at 30,000 MW.
The US Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NERL) conducted a study -- Assessing the Wind Energy Potential in Bangladesh: Enabling Wind Energy Development with Data Products -- from June 2014 to December 2017.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded study concluded with the observation that “preliminary results demonstrate that, for wind speeds of 5.75–7.75 metre per second (m/s), there are more than 20,000 square kilometres of land with a gross wind potential of over 30,000 MW”.
READ: Wind energy vision: Contracts for Chandpur, Inani projects likely soon
About the wind power potentials, Sreda chairman Mohammad Alauddin said the organisation will now conduct a detailed study on the basis of the NREL’s findings to get the bankable data "so that potential investors can invest in the sector and make their investment commercially viable".
"A proposal on wind power's potential will be placed before the Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry to incorporate the target in the proposed Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) up to 2030, now being framed with the help of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)," he told UNB.
The NREL study said, “Although this estimate is not realistic, when proper filters are applied to screen out undesirable land for wind development, it suggests that Bangladesh's 10% renewable target by 2021 is achievable”.
Read Policy support instrumental for renewable energy development: Experts
“The preliminary technical potential analysis calculates gross potential and does not filter out already-developed land, environmentally sensitive land, or land unsuitable for other reasons," it added.
The NERL study found the wind potentials at nine locations across the country, having an average wind speed of 5-6 metre per second at a height of over 60-80 metre above ground level (AGL) -- Lalpur of Natore in Rajshahi, Chandpur, Sitakunda and Parkay Beach in Chattogram, Gouripur in Mymensingh, Madhupur Tea Estate in Habigonj, Dacop in Khulna near Mongla port, Inani Beach in Cox's Bazar, and Badarganj in Rangpur.
Of these, initiatives have already been taken to set up wind power plants at three places -- at Dacop, Inani Beach and Chandpur, each having 50 MW capacity. A contract has already been awarded for the Dacop location.
Read India At COP26 Says Its Solar Energy Capacity Increased 17 Times In 7 Years
"Exploiting the new and efficient technology, we're now planning to set up a good number of wind power plants by 2030," Alauddin said, referring to the NREL study that found the wind speed at six metres per second at a higher hub height.
Energy experts, however, are skeptical about the country's wind power's potential and it's commercial viability.
Eminent energy expert Dr M Tamim said that the proposal for generating 5,000 MW of power from wind is "not only highly ambitious, but highly subjective as well".
READ: Bangladesh’s future focus may be on nuclear energy use: Dr Tawfiq
"Which technology will be used, where it will be used and what will be the cost of electricity and who will be the investors in such projects... these are big questions," said the Professor of Petroleum and Mineral Resources Engineering at BUET.
Sreda statistics show that the country currently generates a total 777.24 MW of electricity from different renewable sources.
Of this, 543.25 MW is generated from solar energy, 2.9 MW from wind, 230 MW from hydro, 0.69 MW from biogas, and 0.4 MW from biomass, while the country’s total power generation capacity is about 25,000 MW.
Read _Bangladesh’s two dream projects face speed bumps
Shariar Ahmed Chowdhury, a professor at United International University, said that wind energy is very sensitive. "If data lacks 10% accuracy, it has a big impact and there may be a variation of 30-40% in the final output," he said.
Prepare road map to raise green energy use to 40% by 2041: Info Minister
A road map has to be prepared right now to reach the government’s goal of increasing the country’s consumption of renewable energy to 40 per cent by 2041, Information and Broadcasting Minister Hasan Mahmud has said.
He said, “From now on, if a road map is prepared, it is possible to achieve these goals gradually.”
The minister made this remark at a COP26 side event titled 'Foreign Investment in Renewable Energy Sector' organised by the Power Division at Bangladesh Pavilion in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Tuesday evening.
Read:COP26: Time running out in Glasgow, as delegates wrangle over details
He told the representatives of Bangladesh’s development partners present at the meeting that Bangladesh will benefit from the use of modern technology and financial assistance to reach its green energy targets by 2041.
He suggested turning the urban wastes into renewable energy besides raising the use of solar power. This will make the environment clean and save money too.
There is no alternative to green energy to make the global mitigation efforts a success, the minister added.
He said that Bangladesh is an innocent climate victim due to the continuous carbon emissions of the developed countries of the world. But they are not giving any compensation or technical assistance for causing this damage.
About the development in the power and energy sector in the country, Hasan Mahmud said per capita income and average life expectancy have increased due to the development of this sector. The living standard of the people has improved.
“Now people in remote areas of the country have access to electricity, their income has also increased.”
Besides, he said Bangladesh has become a middle-income country this year thanks increasing electricity coverage. Now the per capita income stands at $2250.
Read: COP26: Bangladesh delegation senses ‘positive vibe’ as Week 1 ends
Noting that remarkable development has been achieved in the power and energy sector under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the minister said 100% of the people of the country will get access to electricity by the end this year.
When Sheikh Hasina took over as the prime minister in 2009, her government inherited only 3,500 MW of electricity, which in the last 12 years has increased to 24,000 MW.
Secretary of the Power Division Md Habibur Rahman, Chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) Mohammad Alauddin, Director General of Power Cell Mohammad Hossain and Palli Karma-Sahayak Foundation (PKSF) Deputy Managing Director Fazle Rabbi Sadeque Ahmed were present at the event among others.
Policy support instrumental for renewable energy development: Experts
Speakers at a webinar have urged the government to set the renewable energy as a priority sector to scale up its use saying that policy support is instrumental for its development. “There’re huge potentials for renewable energy, especially solar power, for different sectors, including irrigation, and motor vehicle recharging,” said Munawar Misbah Moin, Vice President of Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA). The BSREA, a platform of private operators in solar and renewable energy business, organised the seminar titled "Energy Access & Resilience of Bangladesh - Potentials and Challenges" with its president Dipal Barua in the chair.
Also read: Policy support instrumental for renewable energy development: Experts The organizers said the seminar was arranged in order to send its outcomes to the "Blue Zone", the window and connector of people to COP26. Chairman of Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) Mohammad Aladdin and Energypac CEO and director Nurul Aktar also addressed the seminar. BSREA general secretary Data Magfur conducted the event. Munawar Moin said solar home systems (SHSs) have been the best example of success in renewable energy as it illuminated 6 million homes across the country. Now solar irrigation, solar chilling systems for rural industry, solar recharging stations for electric vehicles have new potential areas for renewable energy where it could be utilized for climate resiliency, he added.
Also read: G20 leaders to tackle energy prices, other economic woes Nurul Aktar said renewable energy could be imported through cross-border transmission lines. He said a strong policy support is essential for the further growth of the renewable energy sector as Bangladesh will need to generate 16,000 MW of power from this source while the country’s total power generation will reach 40,000 MW by 2030. Dipal Barua said the country is now generating 850 MW power from renewable sources where solar power’s contribution has been the highest. Mohammad Aladdin said the government is now moving forward to introduce a floating solar system as the country has scarcity of lands. He said an initiative has been taken to develop wind power plants as well.
Clean energy to be imported from neighbouring countries: Nasrul
Steps will be taken to import clean energy from the neighbouring nations alongside the ongoing efforts to increase the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, said State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid.
He revealed the plan while addressing a presentation session of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) on the country’s power transmission plan at a city hotel on Saturday.
Nasrul said new sources of renewable energies are coming up to boost the energy mix against the backdrop of global climate change.
Held with power secretary Habibur Rahman in the chair, the function was also addressed by Planning Commission member Sharifa Khan. Additional secretary of the power division Nurul Alam conducted the event.
Read: USAID launches new clean energy project in Bangladesh
Director of Power Grid Company India Limited Abhay Chowdhury made a presentation on the topic.
Renewable Energy: Dhaka seeks technology, investment through global collaboration
Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen on Sunday sought global partnership and collaboration in the areas of technology transfer and investment to help Bangladesh increase its renewable energy share.
“We want to boost renewable energy share. We seek their technology and investment,” he told reporters at a media briefing at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after his meeting with the envoys of European countries.
Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Md Shahab Uddin and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were, among others present.
Also read: Bangladesh keen to contribute to global productivity, finance networks: FM
European Union (EU) Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley tweeted after the meeting saying the EU head of missions had fruitful exchange with the Foreign Minister and the Environment Minister on preparations for COP26 and their shared approach to many climate concerns.