Importance Of Renewable Energy In Bangladesh

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Executive Summary Bangladesh is a developing country which has been facing power shortages for decades and the unavailability of electricity has resulted in an overall decline in lifestyle. Currently, most of Bangladesh’s electricity is generated using fossil fuels- especially natural gas. However, fossil fuels are finite and contribute significantly to pollution. Since energy is a basic pre-requisite for a nation’s development, sustainable development for electricity production is imperative. Thus, a shift towards renewables would be quintessential for Bangladesh’s goal of electrifying the whole country by 2020 (Hossain 1646). Bangladesh has great potential for renewable energy, particularly- solar and biomass. Hydropower potential is limited due to the relatively flat terrain of the country. Wind and tidal/wave energy is still being researched. However, many barriers need to be overcome to successfully implement renewable technology in Bangladesh, including- cost, technical skills and knowledge, etc. Therefore, effective policy measures regarding renewable energy are necessary for the overall well-being of the country. Proper energy planning and policy integration can provide long term environmental, economic and social benefits to the people of the country, especially those in rural areas Introduction and Background Bangladesh is a small yet densely populated country in South Asia. It inhabits approximately 150 million people in a land area of about 150,000 square kilometers. (The United States is about 70 times bigger). Most of Bangladesh’s energy consumption involves natural gas and biomass (and waste). The rest of the energy comes from oil, coal and hydropower. According to M.A.H. Mondal’s “Assessment of Renewable Ener... ... middle of paper ... ...upplies such as solar panels, etc. Additionally, this would also increase the level of awareness among the local communities (Mondal 4631). According to a World Bank Study in 2006, Bangladesh lost around $1 billion due to load-shedding and unreliable power supply systems (Hossain 1646). The Bangladesh Government has plans to eliminate power shortages by 2020. Thus, in order to achieve the goal, the government would require a transition towards more promotion, dissemination and commercialization of renewable energy. Furthermore, all barriers, including- technology and skills, financial, policy and institutional need to be addressed. To conclude, an integrated energy planning approach, along with consistent policies regarding technological, economic and social issues are the pre-requisites for long term sustainable development of renewable energy for power generation

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