Dhaka: Works are underway to ensure a 20 percent stake of renewable energy (RE) in total electricity generation by 2023 as part of the interim government’s extra focus to promote green energy in the country under the newly approved Renewable Energy Policy 2025, officials said here today. ‘The government has laid an extra focus on increasing the share of renewable energy (RE) in the country’s energy mix,’ said an official of the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the government has set a target to generate 20 percent of the total power from green energy sources within 2030 and 30 percent by 2040 to achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7). A national solar rooftop program has been prepared to install 3000 MW more power from RE sources as part of this initiative. Energy and Mineral Resources Adviser Dr. Muhammad Fouzul Kabir Khan noted that the government aims to produce 3000 MW of green energy from the rooftop solar program nationwide, with implementation by December this year.
Bangladesh currently has the capacity to generate around 1616.4 MW off-grid and non-grid power from renewable sources, meeting about 8 percent of the current demand and accounting for 5.6 percent of the country’s total capacity of 30,787 MW, according to SREDA. The estimated quantum includes 1322.41 MW from solar power, 62.9 MW from wind, 230 MW from hydroelectricity, 0.69 MW from biogas, and 0.4 MW from biomass. Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) chairman Engineer M Rezaul Karim revealed that tenders have been floated for setting up 52 solar power plants across the country with a total capacity of 5200 MW.
SREDA member Dr. Ashraful Alam highlighted that with the addition of 3000 MW more renewable energy, Bangladesh’s total production would reach 4616.69 MW. The real share of renewable energy in the power sector is now 9 percent, with generation ranging from 15000 to 16000 MW from green sources. Energy ministry officials added that green power producers are allowed to sell their electricity to private entities alongside government agencies, as per the Net Metering Guidelines 2018.
The government’s Renewable Energy Policy includes financial incentives for solar investments, promoting net metering, and developing energy storage systems to encourage private sector participation. A 10-year corporate tax exemption for renewable energy producers is in place, followed by another five years of partial tax exemption. Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus recently issued a directive to expedite the implementation of the ‘National Rooftop Solar Programme,’ installing solar panels atop all government buildings, educational institutions, and hospitals.
The SREDA reports a total of 384 stakeholders in the renewable energy sector, with 3693 using the net metering system. Individuals, companies, or investors can apply for the installation of rooftop solar panels to generate electricity, following government-formulated guidelines. According to the state-run Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), solar-related power generation in Bangladesh has increased significantly, with 56,97,112 systems and a capacity of 666 MWp.
The revised Renewable Energy Policy stipulates that electricity distribution companies will cover their commanding areas through mini, micro, nano, and pico solar grids or hybrid systems, where national grid electrification is not feasible. The Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission will determine the electricity distribution tariff. SREDA is authorized to coordinate, manage, and oversee all grid-connected and off-grid renewable projects.
Globally, the share of electricity from renewable sources is expected to rise to 35 percent by 2025, surpassing coal-fired generation for the first time. According to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), China leads in green energy production, followed by the United States and Brazil. Other countries with significant renewable energy production include India, Canada, Germany, Japan, Russia, Norway, and Spain. China aims to produce 1,200 GW of renewable energy by 2030, while other nations like Sweden, New Zealand, and Germany have set ambitious targets for renewable energy adoption.