Govt to Produce 40pc Power from Clean Energy by 2041

Increasing the proportion of renewable energy in Bangladesh's fuel mix is encouraged, according to State Minister for Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid. 

“We’ve been working adopting strategies on energy diversification, clean energy and climate change mitigation to promote renewable energy. By 2041, the government is moving ahead with the goal of producing 40 percent of electricity from clean energy,”  he said while addressing "Energy Transition Ministerial Meeting" on the occasion of G-20 in Goa, India on Saturday. 

He stated that although 825.23 MW of power is entering the national grid, 1,194 MW of electricity is produced from renewable sources. 

He said that a total of 9930 MW of electricity generation from renewable sources is now planned, with another 1262 MW of projects using renewable energy already under way and 8668 MW of projects in the planning stages.

Speaking at the Ministerial Meeting were India's Minister of Power and New and Renewable Energy R. K. Singh, Brazil's Minister of Mines and Energy Alexandre Alexandre Silveira de Oliveira, Indonesia's Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Arifin Tasrif, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, and other relevant ministers. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also made a video message to start the program.

According to Nasrul Hamid, who described renewable energy projects, 6 million solar household systems provide lighting for 20 million individuals who live off the grid.

solar mini-grids are supplying off-grid areas with grid-quality power while 7 solar parks have been set up. 

“We have about 100,000 wind gas plants. A wind resource map has been prepared in Bangladesh in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL),” he said.

He noted that about 245 MW wind power generation activities are ongoing through five projects. 

He said the government has taken up process to import hydropower from Nepal and Bhutan.

“Renewable energy is also gaining importance in integrated energy and power master plans. This includes plans for renewable energy (solar, wind, and hydro etc.), nuclear, power import (hydro), hydrogen, ammonia, CCS (carbon dioxide) capture and combined cycle power plants.”

The state minister also said that Bangladesh has lost around $10 billion worth of investment due to the cancellation of 10 coal-based power plants in the country. 

“This bold move reflects our strong commitment to green and clean energy. As a densely populated nation, we face unique challenges in implementing renewable energy projects,” he said.

Nasrul Hamid said Bangladesh’s electricity consumption pattern is different from many developed countries and solar power is inappropriate as a base-load power. 

He said that lack of land is a major hurdle for solar projects. Overcoming these challenges requires technology transfer and research, he added. 

Renewable energy, especially, waste-to-energy and wind power require massive investment, he said adding that the government  welcome investment in power and energy sector in Bangladesh.