EU hands over govt energy storage roadmap

European Union Ambassador to Bangladesh Charles Whiteley on Thursday said the European Union with Team Europe is proud to stand alongside the government of Bangladesh in its journey towards a greener and more prosperous future.

“We are delighted to present the Energy Storage Roadmap to the Government of Bangladesh and to potential investors,” said Ambassador Whiteley.

The European Union Delegation hosted the “Energy Storage Roadmap Presentation & Handover: Driving Investments & Coordination” event at a hotel in Dhaka.

“This event has not only highlighted the strategic importance of energy storage in Bangladesh’s sustainable energy goals but has also laid the foundation for collaboration and investments in this crucial sector,” said the ambassador.

The programme was attended by PM’s adviser on Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Dr Towfiq-e-Elahi Chowdhury as the chief guest.

Dr Chowdhury expressed his interest for the study and shared the wish to know more about the existing and prospective battery energy storage applications in other countries and Europe.

He encouraged the EU and its Member States to invest in other renewable energy applications in Bangladesh.

Additional Secretary Planning-2 Power Division, Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, Tania Khan, and the Director General Power Cell, Eng Mohammad Hossain, attended as special guests. Munira Sultana, Chairman Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) also attended the programme.

The event also brought together 40 high-level representatives from power sector government stakeholders, Power Division, transmission and distribution utilities as the Managing Directors of Dhaka Power Distribution Company (DPDC), Dhaka Electricity Supply Company Limited (DESCO), the Chairman of Rural Electrification Board (BREB), Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), representatives from Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and from Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB), as well as sector relevant donors and, including GIZ, AFD, ADB, the World Bank, EU Member States, the US Embassy and two private sector companies, all interested in potential investments in energy storage solutions.

The Energy Storage Roadmap’s main features were presented by the study team leader Mohammad Arbaaz Nayeem, who also addressed questions and comments from the audience.

This study was organised within the framework of Team Europe Initiative on Green Energy Transition, and as part of the EU Global Gateway strategy.

Both Additional Secretary Tania Khan and DG Power Cell conveyed their appreciation to the European Union (EU) for providing funding for this study. They also expressed keen interest in collaborating with the EU on the projects outlined in the study.

EU engagement and financial commitment in support to the green transition in Bangladesh covers different aspects of the power sector, said the EU Embassy in Dhaka.