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The government is set to conduct a comprehensive study on harnessing the potential of offshore wind energy to enhance power generation from renewable sources.
The study aims to develop a detailed database that will support large-scale investments and infrastructure development for wind power generation, said a senior Power Division official.
To accelerate the study, the Power Division is preparing a project proposal titled "Technical Assistance for Renewable Energy Expansion" with an estimated cost of Tk 800 million.
This information was disclosed at an inter-ministerial meeting organised recently by the Economic Relations Division (ERD) to finalise foreign funding for the project.
The project is expected to receive a grant of 5 million British pounds (equivalent to Tk 783 million) from the UK government's Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said officials present in the meeting.
Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) under the Power Division will implement the project, reveal the meeting minutes.
In addition to conducting the study, the project aims to enhance SREDA's carbon pricing and trading capacity within the country.
Furthermore, it will focus on developing a business model to expand the use of solar irrigation pumps.
Experts described the project as a significantly-delayed initiative, noting that while ambitious targets were set to expand the use of renewable energy, implementation efforts fell short.
They also emphasised that a well-planned initiative to generate electricity using offshore wind should have been taken much earlier, following a thorough feasibility study.
A SREDA official stated that this would be the first major initiative in Bangladesh to harness offshore wind energy for electricity generation.
The potential power output from this source would be determined after the completion of the study, he added.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory in the US said in early 2018 that Bangladesh possesses significant offshore wind energy potential, with the capacity to generate at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
This potential could be further expanded to reach as much as 20,000 megawatts, making offshore wind a viable and promising source of renewable energy for the country, it said in an assessment report based on a review of wind mapping data collected from nine locations across Bangladesh.
The data was analysed to evaluate wind speeds, consistency, and overall feasibility for large-scale power generation.
The meeting arranged by the ERD recommended involving key organisations in the project's implementation, while the Bangladesh Meteorological Department will provide essential weather forecasting and climate data.
The Bangladesh Agricultural Development Corporation will ensure that the project aligns with agricultural needs, leveraging its experience in the sector.
The Ministry of Agriculture's field staff will also be engaged for their local knowledge, tailoring the project to the specific needs of the farming communities.
The meeting also recommended engaging the Bangladesh Bank and ERD- owned Infrastructure Development Company Limited considering their financing experience in the renewable energy sector.
Energy expert Professor Dr M Shamsul Alam, a central executive committee member of the Consumers Association of Bangladesh, criticised the study, calling it a symbol of reluctance towards renewable energy.
He pointed out that despite setting a target of generating 10 per cent of the total electricity from renewable energy by 2021, the share is still below 1 per cent due to the government's inaction.
"After achieving nationwide electrification, we are now considering studying offshore wind energy potential. Without foreign grants, we would not have even thought about this," he said.
Dr Alam noted that while other countries have successfully harnessed wind power despite natural risks, Bangladesh has yet to make any meaningful progress in that domain.
Had the government been truly committed, offshore wind projects would have started much earlier, he said.
"How ignorant must we be to invest in solar projects having high per-unit costs while relying on foreign grants just to study wind power?" he added.
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