VATIS UPDATE Article

The Bangladesh government has targeted generating 697 megawatt (mw) of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2019 aimed at joining the path to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the country. “Besides, the government fixed another target for 10 per cent power to be procured from the renewable energy sources by 2020 and onward by following the Renewable Energy Policy,” said Nasrul Hamid, State Minister for Power. As much as 433 MW of electricity is now being generated from the renewable energy sources in the country.

“The present government has already brought around 20 million people under electricity facility by installing 5.0 million Solar Home Systems across the country, the largest in the world,” said Nasrul Hamid. According to data from various stakeholders, some 5,000,000 solar systems, solar irrigation 441, solar drinking water system 122, biogas plant 45,070, improved cook stoves 3,022,213, improved rice parboiling system 75 have been installed in the country.

Besides, the government took up project to install solar panel having 145 mw of power by 2018, while other renewable energy initiatives would generate 552 mw of electricity within 2019. The present renewable energy and energy efficiency scenario of Bangladesh is 423 mw and renewable energy share reached 3.45 per cent. The energy efficiency master plan targeted saving power by 15 per cent by 2021 and 20 per cent by 2030 and the SREDA will play a pivotal role in achieving these targets.