Expansion of renewable energy sources

As the world wakes up to the reality of the climate change and its impacts power will increasingly have to come from renewable sources. Bangladesh simply cannot afford to continue paying so heavily for importing fossil fuels. The government has a vision to produce 10 per cent of its total energy from clean energy sources within the next few years.

As solar power is environmentally-friendly and the cost of generating it is low, expanding the use of solar power should be prioritised. Solar-based initiatives such as solar irrigation, mini-grids, rooftop-based solar home systems and solar power plants should be set up all across the country.

Renewable energy comprises energy from the sun (directly), usually called solar, biomass, wind, tidal, geothermal and hydro. The endowment of these resources will determine how much of each form of renewable energy source can be exploited in a country.

For example, Bangladesh does not have geothermal potential and its hydro potential, especially which based on elevation, is small. Tidal is a new form of energy source that is yet to achieve commercialisation. It thus leaves solar, wind and biomass as the only current options

The government should take various encouraging initiatives including allowing tax and VAT-free import of the machinery that is needed for green energy production. The country’s needs are growing faster than even its population, which is obviously growing rapidly.

If Bangladesh is going to even begin laying the groundwork for a successful economy in the 21st century, its energy needs need to grow even faster. We are rapidly exhausting our non-renewable resources, degrading the potentially renewable resources and even threatening the perpetual energy resources.

With long hot summer months Bangladesh is an ideal candidate for increased use of solar energy. If solar and other renewable energy sources can gradually replace the use of fossil fuels in the irrigation sector not only will it save crores of taka spent in importing diesel but emission free agricultural practice will help reduce the carbon footprint to a great degree.

Solar energy and other renewables are the future. Fossil fuels are finite and already their substitutes are being adopted in various parts of the globe. The authorities here are trying to promote renewable energy across the country to achieve the target to generate 10 per cent of electricity from renewable sources.

Bangladesh is a success story in developing off-grid rooftop solar power known as solar home system (SHS) which has given electricity to a large number of people living in remote off-grid areas and who would not have electricity otherwise. More than four million SHS installed domestically have uplifted the lifestyle of these impoverished people by providing small-scale power at their homes.

With the cost of installing solar panels coming down, each village in future may be able to set up panels and generate enough power for irrigation. Initially though, donor agencies as well as non-governmental organisations, micro-finance institutions, private companies and commercial banks can play a vital role in funding the installation of more pumps.

We believe that if the necessary safety issue is dealt with, nuclear energy can prove to be an effective alternative to conventional sources of power generation. The quick rental projects are stop gap measures which have their limitations. With increased industrialisation the need for energy will only increase and continuing to import petroleum is simply not sustainable. However for nuclear energy to become a success story in Bangladesh we need a pool of trained, skillful people.

With climate change becoming a looming threat the country must look for ways to increase the use of renewable energy sources like solar power. Solar energy generates energy without releasing greenhouse effect gases (GHG), making them an indispensable ally in the battle against climate change and environmental degradation. In any case fossil fuels will be depleted in the long run unlike renewable sources.