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The case for renewable energy is twofold: (1) to reduce chronic dependence on fossil fuels thereby cut down on import requirements; and (2) to diminish carbon emission that is contributing to climate change and threatening lives and livelihoods of millions of people around the world besides destroying ecology that supports planetary stability.
As countries have developed industrially, their need for fossil fuels have increased exponentially. This has resulted in a supply- demand mismatch, pushing up the prices for fossil fuels. For developing countries this is placing a heavy burden on their budgetary resource. Increasing demand and use, on the other hand, is depleting the reserves of fossil fuels in the world. The other, the more serious, problem is the growing incidence of carbon emission that has morphed into an existential threat for mankind and all living organisms. Beginning from the Earth Summit in Rio in 1992 that, among others, set up United Nations Convention Framework on Climate Change, there has been an annual summit on climate change to monitor and take policy decisions on reducing the use of fossil fuels that contribute to greenhouse gases, including carbon emissions. Both for abiding by with the global decision to cut down in carbon emission and to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy, Bangladesh has adopted renewable energy promotion as an important policy objective.
In the Master Plan on Energy in 2020 it was envisaged that 10 per cent of total power generation will come from renewable sources. But though power generation capacity from fossil fuels has been achieved as per the goal, the same from renewable sources have fallen short of the target. Till today power generation from renewable sources has not reached 4 per cent of the total. The government has set the goal of generating 60 thousand mega watts of power by 2041 out of which 40 per cent is expected to come from renewable sources. At present the total power generation of the country is 28.134 mega watts based on captive and renewable sources. As pointed out earlier, 10 per cent of total generation was expected from renewable sources which amount to little more than 2800 mega watts. But according to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) the actual contribution from this source was only 1194 mega watts which amounts to little more than 4 per cent.
According to SREDA, as of August 2023 the total capacity of power generation from renewable source stood at 1194 mega watts. Out of this, solar energy contributed 960.8 mega watts, hydro power 230 megawatts, wind power 2.9 mega watts, bio gas 0.69. mega watts and bio mass 0.4 mega watts. It has been pointed out by energy analysts that power generation from renewable sources has not picked up due to lack of adequate publicity, absence of official guidelines and meagre incentives given to private sector. Energy experts are of the opinion that about 3000 mega watts power can be generated from solar and wind energy in the country, thereby reducing the pressure on fossil fuel-based power generation.
From the experience gained so far and considering the feasibility it has been concluded that a good part of the potential for increasing power generation from solar and wind power remains untapped. The private sector is interested to invest in this sector in a big way but the tax structure acts as a disincentive. If the import of solar panel is allowed tax free or at a nominal rate this will encourage many entrepreneurs to invest. This can either be achieved through public private partnership (PPP) or through the private sector.
The technology of solar and wind power is simple enough to be used by Bangladeshi technicians and workers. If they are sent to China or Chinese experts are invited to Bangladesh technology transfer can take place within a short period. On the demand side, customers can easily be made interested in the use of solar power because of the low cost per unit of power that saves Tk 4 per kilowatt. A particular target for absorption of solar power is the housing sector where the design of the building can build in installation of solar panels on roofs and solid walls. For big factories it can be made obligatory to install solar panels to produce part of the electricity they need. It is encouraging that the business model of roof- top solar power has proved both feasible and viable. Operators, investors and commercial banks have all shown Interest in the solar rooftop business model.
Compared to solar energy, wind and hydropower is still at a fledgling stage. Only coastal areas of the country appear to be fertile grounds for exploitation of the potentials. But though limited in scope, these sources have one advantage over solar energy and that is their all weather availability. Since in renewable energy, a mix is being considered even sectors with low potential should be used
Most important is acquisition of technical know-how at grassroots level so that repair and maintenance facilities are available at local level. This may be a potent attraction for creating demand. It has been found by solar energy providers like IDCOL that in agriculture production farmers are showing interest in using solar power instead of diesel to run their irrigation pumps because of the decentralised service system. Where garment factories are found in a cluster and it is feasible to service installed solar panels by the operator , factory owners are coming forward to use solar energy without much persuasion.
The most important source of renewable energy that is also environment-friendly is, of course, nuclear power. Leaving aside the risk of melt-down, power generated in nuclear plan is cheaper than that produced by fossil fuels. The Rooppur Power Plant, when ready for operation will make significant contribution to power generation in Bangladesh. If the second nuclear plant on the drawing board materialises, the energy sector in Bangladesh will be in a position to export power from the national grid.
Hung up on the use of fossil fuel for power generation for long, it is understandable that gaining momentum takes time. But it is gratifying that a beginning has been made and Bangladesh is poised to wean itself away from total dependence on fossil fuel-based power generation.