Bangladesh far away from green energy goal

Bangladesh is far behind the world’s average, with less than 1 per cent of electricity generation from wind and solar, according to a major report by Ember, an environmental non-profit global think tank campaigning to reduce the use of coal.

Renewable energy - wind and solar - represented a record 12 per cent of global electricity generation last year, up from 10% per cent in 2021, said the Ember report published on Wednesday. While in Bangladesh, Clean energy (solar and hydropower) recorded 2 per cent electricity generation in its electricity mix in 2022.

The country remains almost completely dependent on fossil power - 98 per cent - for power generation compared to the global average of 61 per cent.

The data revealed in the fourth annual Global Electricity Review by Ember analysed electricity data from 2022 across 78 countries, representing 93 per cent of global electricity demand.

The report states that over 60 countries now generate more than 10 per cent of their electricity from wind and solar.

In the meantime, the transition is taking place at sloth-like pace in Bangladesh, where the share of clean power is 2 per cent– the lowest among other South Asian countries. Among the neighbouring countries, India’s clean energy output stands at 23 per cent and Pakistan at 43 per cent.

At present, fossil fuels continue to be the dominant energy source in Bangladesh, with 15 per cent of its power generation coming from coal, 59 per cent from gas and 24 per cent from other fossil fuels. In comparison, 61 per cent of global electricity came from fossil fuels in 2022 and 39 per cent from clean sources.

Slow transition will harm the economy

Experts said Bangladesh’s environment and economy both will suffer unless the country picks up the pace in transitioning to clean energy from fossil fuel use.

Zakir Hossain Khan, executive director of Change Initiative said, “Not only energy sustainability, we will fall behind in economic sustainability if we do not increase the share of renewable energy in power generation.

“Our export will be hampered due to the increase of production cost as fossil fuel will be more costly in future than renewable.

“There are multiple options for renewable energy. Transitioning to clean energy will also reduce air and water pollution as 40 per cent of air pollution is caused by diesel-run vehicles in Dhaka city, while diesel-run vessels are polluting the rivers. If we go renewable, total ecology will get a relief while the negative health impact from power generation will be reduced remarkably.”

Zakir suggested establishing a renewable energy finance platform under the supervision of the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Small producers who want to establish 3 MW, 5 MW solar plants do not have the financial ability to do feasibility studies. This platform can help them access finance,” he added.

Renewable energy mapping is important by which a target will be set on what kind of renewable energy can be received from different parts of the country.

“We can use khas land to generate 30,000 MW electricity from solar plants, “ he said.

A recent program at the Brac Center in the capital, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Nasrul Hamid said the government would be able to generate 1,000 MW of solar grid power by next year, while there is potential to generate 500 MW to 600 MW of wind power.

He said solar energy is less viable for the country that lacks adequate land for this purpose while the cost of power production is also high.

However, the state minister stated that the country is going to follow a “Hydrogen Policy” to tackle the power crisis which is prevailing in the country.

“The policy-making works have already started,” he said, adding that the government plans to produce electricity from hydrogen by 2035.

Entering the clean power era

The world has made a great stride towards achieving its goal of reaching clean energy generation on a pathway to clean power by 2040 last year.

According to the Ember report, solar was the fastest-growing source of global electricity for the eighteenth year in a row, rising by 24 per cent year-on-year in 2022.

Wind power generation increased by 17 per cent in 2022, which is enough to power almost all of the United Kingdom. The growth in wind and solar generation in 2022 met an impressive 80 per cent rise in global electricity demand.

In spite of the global gas crisis and fears of a return to coal, the rise in wind and solar limited the increase in global coal generation, which rose by 1.1 per cent. Hydro power generation increased 1.7 per cent, bioenergy by 0.8 per cent year on year.

On the other hand, global gas power generation fell very slightly by 0.2 per cent in 2022 while nuclear power generation fell 4.7 per cent.

In 2022, of the total energy production across the globe, solar accounted for 4.5 per cent, wind 7.6 per cent, hydro 15 per cent, coal 36 per cent, gas 22 per cent, nuclear 9.2 per cent, bioenergy 2.4 per cent, and other energy sources accounted for the rest 3.3 per cent.

Total electricity demand was 28, 510 terawatt hours during the period.

However, overall, that still meant that global power sector emissions increased by 1.3 per cent in 2022, reaching an all-time high.

According to modelling by the International Energy Agency, the electricity sector needs to move from being the highest emitting sector to being the first sector to reach net zero by 2040 in order to achieve economy-wide net zero by 2050. This would mean wind and solar reaching 41 per cent of global electricity by 2030, from 12 per cent in 2022.

Besides, coal generation needs to fall by 54 per cent and gas generation by 24 per cent. At the same time, electricity demand will rise dramatically, by an average of 3.7 per cent per year from 2021 to 2030, as electrification picks up pace.

Lead author of the report and Ember’s senior electricity analyst, Małgorzata Wiatros-Motyka, said, “The stage is set for wind and solar to achieve a meteoric rise to the top. Clean electricity will reshape the global economy, from transport to industry and beyond.

“A new era of falling fossil emissions means the coal power phasedown will happen, and the end of gas power growth is now within sight. Change is coming fast. However, it all depends on the actions taken now by governments, businesses and citizens to put the world on a pathway to clean power by 2040.”

Speaking about Bangladesh’s part in achieving global net zero target, Zakir Hossain said, “We emit less compared to developed countries, India and China. It is an opportunity to shift to a renewable model from fossil fuel models. And we should go renewable before fossil fuel plants and high electricity costs become a burden.

“To hasten the increase of renewable energy and sustainability, open and competitive bidding is needed.” The government has set a goal to achieve a clean energy transition of 40 per cent by 2041.