Nearly 85% of Bangladesh’s power comes from fossil fuels. Oil and gas prices have exponentially increased recently, leading to inflation and unaffordability. Bangladesh, with its population growing annually by 1%, sees its energy demand increase by approximately 4.7% each year. The nation primarily relies on natural gas, oil, coal and diesel for its energy needs. However, recent spikes in energy prices, driven by global factors, have prompted a shift toward renewable energy. The Bangladeshi government aims to produce 4,100 MW of clean energy by 2030 as part of its strategy to adapt to these ongoing challenges and ensure sustainable growth.

Persistent Power Outages and Infrastructure Challenges

Bangladesh faces significant challenges with its electrical infrastructure, severely affecting the quality of life due to frequent and prolonged blackouts. Residents report random power outages that can last more than 10 hours, exemplified by the 2022 national blackout that lasted seven hours. In 2010, the government mandated the installation of solar panels on residential and commercial buildings. However, due to the installation of low-quality panels at that time, many buildings now have unusable, uninspected solar installations. Additionally, the outdated grid infrastructure struggles to support renewable energy sources, posing further challenges for the government. Despite these obstacles, the Bangladeshi government remains committed to investing in renewable energy sources to improve the situation.

Initiatives and Progress in Renewable Energy

Here are the steps Bangladesh is taking to clean its energy:

1. Bangladesh is part of the Paris Agreement, which focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Part of its plan for implementing renewable energy is developing eco-friendly industrial zones and parks, with the inclusion of solar energy and wastewater management. The country is also increasing its reliance on biomass, wind and solar energy.
2. Bangladesh invests in renewable energy through the RERED (Rural Electrification and Renewable Energy Development) project. In the past 20 years, the RERED program has allowed electrical access to more than 20 million people across Bangladesh. The RERED Program has majorly focused on rural electrification, meaning that urban electrification is still a focus of the Bangladeshi Government.
3. Bangladesh has agreed to produce at least 40% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2041, pledging to the Climate Vulnerable Forum. Currently at 3.7%, the majority of it comes from solar energy.
4. Geographically, Bangladesh is less suited for hydro or wind energy. The country is well suited for photovoltaic (PV) energy, as it has high solar irradiation levels. This is also an option that could be well-distributed across the country, allowing for consistent accessibility.
5. Captive solar rooftops are emerging as a leading energy source in Bangladesh, demonstrating notable success. Another renewable energy initiative, Solar Independent Power Producers (IPPs), is also being implemented, although it requires large landmasses, which Bangladesh lacks. Despite this, captive solar rooftops are currently yielding more promising results in the country.
6. Since 2003, Bangladesh has partnered with the Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) to participate in its Solar Home System (SHS) program, which successfully installed 4.13 million SHSs by 2019. Over the last five years, the installation of solar home systems has expanded. However, as rural electrification has become more widespread, the focus has now shifted toward enhancing solar energy use in urban areas within Bangladesh.

The Future Outlook

Bangladesh is advancing in its quest to secure reliable electricity and energy sources, aiming to achieve 40% renewable energy by 2041—a target that now appears promising.

– Lakshya Anand

Lakshya is based in Bellevue, WA, USA and focuses on Technology and Solutions for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Flickr