DEVELOPMENT of renewable energy for the fulfilment of the demand for electricity is certainly laudable from the environmental perspectives. While Bangladesh is first among 32 countries that face extreme risks because of climate change, the target of the government to bring three million more households under renewable solar energy systems in the next three years sounds good. In theory, it seems sensible also. The plan of installing solar energy systems will be executed through Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), a government venture started in 1997. But the anxiousness over the economic viability of solar energy system for the target families, scope of market monopoly by a single company, and fear of corruption overshadows the plan because it may create over dependency on solar energy systems.
At present, 1.4 million diesel-run and 150,000 electricity-run irrigation pumps are used to irrigate arable lands in Bangladesh which put immense pressure on carbon-based energy sources and the national power grid. If a portion of these pumps can be put under the solar-based irrigation system, the import of diesel will decrease significantly and the pressure on the national grid will also ease.
In recent times, the use of solar power has been increased manifold as the government waived import duties and tax on solar accessories and channelled soft loans and grants to the people through IDCOL. It is imperative to transform the country’s existing carbon-based energy system into a smart, clean and effective energy one suitable for the 21st Century to ensure sustainable economic development. And to achieve this visionary aim, public and private initiatives, environmental planning and technological roadmap as well as global cooperation to a large extent is needed.
To make electricity facility available for all by 2021, the government has formulated renewable energy policy and enacted the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority Act laying emphasis on production and distribution of environmentally sustainable renewable energy. According to the plan, the government wishes to enhance the electricity generation to 24,000 MW of which 10 percent (2400 MW) would come from the renewable energy. Accordingly, projects have been undertaken for the production of biogas, installation of solar-powered irrigation pumps and mini-grid system through IDCOL.
Solar energy-based electricity generation for every household is a costly dream which is very expensive for the families despite the availability of a soft loan system. Wind-based power generation should also get due consideration because that too is also eco-friendly at an affordable cost.
We are deeply concerned about the fact of total dependence on a single company initiative which offers chances of monopolistic control and opens the door to corruption . We advise that it is better to leave the matter to the private sector which operates under market factors as over dependency on any single supply source or system is not a wise option.
At present, 1.4 million diesel-run and 150,000 electricity-run irrigation pumps are used to irrigate arable lands in Bangladesh which put immense pressure on carbon-based energy sources and the national power grid. If a portion of these pumps can be put under the solar-based irrigation system, the import of diesel will decrease significantly and the pressure on the national grid will also ease.
In recent times, the use of solar power has been increased manifold as the government waived import duties and tax on solar accessories and channelled soft loans and grants to the people through IDCOL. It is imperative to transform the country’s existing carbon-based energy system into a smart, clean and effective energy one suitable for the 21st Century to ensure sustainable economic development. And to achieve this visionary aim, public and private initiatives, environmental planning and technological roadmap as well as global cooperation to a large extent is needed.
To make electricity facility available for all by 2021, the government has formulated renewable energy policy and enacted the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority Act laying emphasis on production and distribution of environmentally sustainable renewable energy. According to the plan, the government wishes to enhance the electricity generation to 24,000 MW of which 10 percent (2400 MW) would come from the renewable energy. Accordingly, projects have been undertaken for the production of biogas, installation of solar-powered irrigation pumps and mini-grid system through IDCOL.
Solar energy-based electricity generation for every household is a costly dream which is very expensive for the families despite the availability of a soft loan system. Wind-based power generation should also get due consideration because that too is also eco-friendly at an affordable cost.
We are deeply concerned about the fact of total dependence on a single company initiative which offers chances of monopolistic control and opens the door to corruption . We advise that it is better to leave the matter to the private sector which operates under market factors as over dependency on any single supply source or system is not a wise option.
