Dhaka: The Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) today called for the integration of regional Renewable Energy (RE) trade into the national plan to stabilize the grid and reduce costs.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the observation was made during a press briefing on ‘Energy and Power Sector Master Plan (EPSMP): 2026-2050’ held at the CPD office in the city. The event saw the participation of Dr. Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Research Director of CPD; Md Mehadi Hasan Shamim, Research Associate; Abrar Ahammed Bhuiyan, Research Associate; Atikuzzaman Shazeed, Research Associate; Sabiha Sharmin, Research Associate; Maleehah Sabah Ali, Programme Associate; and Md. Khalid Mahmud, Programme Associate, among others.
Helen Mashiyat Preoty, a senior research associate, presented the briefing, emphasizing that power demand and supply should be planned zone-wise in accordance with upcoming RE power plants and the National Solar Rooftop Programme. She highlighted the need for location-specific planning and estimation through zonal mapping, given the plans to integrate over 5000 MW of RE from utility scale and over 3000 MW from the national rooftop programme.
Preoty urged the government to focus on areas with higher solar and wind electricity potential in the country. She cautioned against allowing carbon credits without thorough scrutiny, warning that it might hinder energy transition and legitimize emissions prematurely. She advocated for a detailed review before establishing a framework for carbon credits.
The presentation also called for a monitoring and evaluation framework to track the implementation progress of the EPSMP in achieving energy transition. Institutional reform of the Power Grid Company of Bangladesh (PGCB) was recommended to ensure independent and efficient system planning.
Preoty stressed the importance of directing significant investment towards RE expansion and domestic gas exploration, both onshore and offshore, instead of relying on LNG. She also advocated for unbundling the roles of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) and enhancing the autonomy and enforcement powers of the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) and the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).