Electricity sector in Bangladesh

{{Pie chart|thumb=right|caption=Total energy supply 2021{{Cite web |title=Thailand - Countries & Regions |url=https://www.iea.org/countries/thailand/energy-mix |access-date=2024-05-02 |website=IEA |language=en-GB}}|other=|label4=Coal|value4=6.97|color4=#de2821|label1=Oil|value1=21.72|color1=#7C6250|label3=Biofuels and Waste|value3=15.90|color3=#313c42|label2=Natural gas|value2=54.67|color2=#ef8e39|label5=Wind, Solar, etc.|value5=0.085|color5=#006400|label6=Hydro|value6=0.12|color6=#191970}}

Efforts to develop an open-pit coal mine in Phulbari, Dinajpur District, have met with large, violent protests in 2006 because of feared environmental effects, and six people were killed and hundreds injured.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2006/aug/30/bangladesh Randeep Ramesh, "Six killed in protests over UK mining firm in Bangladesh"], The Guardian, 29 August 2006. Retrieved 25 March 2013 At the time, the government closed the project, for which it was working with Asia Energy (now Global Coal Resources). It was encouraged in December 2009 to re-open it by the United States ambassador in private communication.[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/dec/21/wikileaks-cables-us-bangladesh-coal-mine "WikiLeaks cables: US pushed for reopening of Bangladesh coal mine"], The Guardian, 21 December 2010 In October 2010 protesters make a week-long march from Phulbari to Dhaka against the mine; a coalition of other groups protested at a Global Coal Resources meeting in London.[http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=c876914f82ce54cb533b186afd41166e "Massive protest in London"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224172420/http://www.banglanews24.com/English/detailsnews.php?nssl=c876914f82ce54cb533b186afd41166e |date=24 February 2013 }}, BanglaNews24, 10 December 2010. Retrieved 25 March 2013

{{main|Renewable energy in Bangladesh}}

According to the Bangladesh's Power Sector Master Plan 2016 (PSMP–2016), the country has the potential to generate a combined 3.6 GW of electricity from renewable energy sources.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/star-weekend/long-form/nuclear-power-surviving-secrecy-and-misinformation-1528468|title=Nuclear power: Surviving on secrecy and misinformation|last=Rahman and Sarker|date=2018-02-02|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}} Another research has estimated that the potential from wind power alone stands at 20 GW.

The government of Bangladesh has approved the construction by private developers of 19 on-grid solar parks, with would have cumulative generation capacity of 1070 MW.{{Cite news |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/opinion/economics/why-solar-power-development-so-slow-bangladesh-1560934|title=Why is solar power development so slow in Bangladesh?|last=Imam|first=Badrul|date=2018-04-11|work=The Daily Star|language=en|access-date=2019-01-04}} A solar power plant having a power generation capacity of 28 MW has recently started its operation in Teknaf of Cox's Bazar. Accounting this, the power generation capacity from renewable energy sources exceeds five percent of the country's total demand.

Technical Solartech Energy Ltd (TSEL) has installed this power plant in Teknaf utilizing a total of 116 acres of land. Currently, the power plant is feeding 20MW to the national grid.{{Cite web|url=http://energybangla.com/largest-solar-power-plant-starts-operation-in-teknaf/|title = Largest Solar Power Plant starts operation in Teknaf|date = 30 October 2018 |website=Energy Bangla}}

Bangladesh has planned to produce 10% of total power generation by 2020 from renewable energy sources like wind, waste, and solar energy. The country plans to increase its renewable energy share to 17% by 2041 under its Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5% until 2030.

The country's prospect of geothermal energy extraction has also been discussed by researchers.Md. A. Akbar, "An assessment of the geothermal potential of Bangladesh", United Nations University, Geothermal Training Programme, Orkustofnun, Grensasvegur 9, IS-108 Reykjavik, Iceland, Reports 2011, Number 5. Studies carried out by geologists suggested geothermal resources in northwest and southeast region.{{cite conference |url=https://www.geothermal-energy.org/pdf/IGAstandard/WGC/2010/0172.pdf |title=Geothermal potential in Bangladesh - results from investigations of abandoned deep wells |last1=Guha |first1=D. K. |last2=Henkel |first2=H. |last3=Imam |first3=B. |date=April 2010 |book-title=Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2010 |location=Bali, Indonesia |conference=}}{{cite journal |last=Rahman |first=M. |title=Geothermal potential resources in Thakurgaon district, northern Bangladesh |journal=Bangladesh Journal of Geology |volume=25 |year=2006 |pages=13–30}}

The government has prepared a Power System Master Plan (PSMP) including the reform activities to meet the growing demand. As per the plan, power generation capacity will be 40 GW by 2030 and 60 GW by 2041. To secure fuel supply, the government has planned for fuel diversification. Electricity generation from gas/LNG, liquid fuel, coal, nuclear, hydro, renewable and import from neighbouring countries have also been included in this plan. As per this plan, coal, nuclear, and gas/LNG-based combined cycle power plants will be used as base load power plants. Imported LNG will be used as complementary as local gas is limited. The integrated power and energy master plan is in the final stage in line with the upgradation of

PSMP.

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Bangladesh has small reserves of oil and coal, but very large natural gas resources. Commercial energy consumption comes mostly from natural gas (around 66%), followed by oil, hydropower, and coal. Non-commercial energy sources, such as wood fuel, and crop residues, are estimated to account for over half of the country's energy consumption.

A 2014 news report stated that:

Bangladesh is considered one of the most energy-poor nations, with one of the lowest per capita electricity consumption rates in the world. More than a third of Bangladesh's 166 million people still have no access to electricity, while the country often is able to produce only some of its 11,500-megawatt generation capacity.

In generating and distributing electricity, the failure to adequately manage the load leads to extensive load shedding which results in severe disruption in the industrial production and other economic activities. A recent survey reveals that power outages result in a loss of industrial output worth $1 billion a year which reduces the GDP growth by about half a percentage point in Bangladesh. A major hurdle in efficiently delivering power is caused by the inefficient distribution system. It is estimated that the total transmission and distribution losses in Bangladesh amount to one-third of the total generation, the value of which is equal to US$247 million per year.

In 2011, there were proposals to upgrade the grid technologies to digital smart metering systems and investing in renewable energy technologies to produce 5% of total power generation by 2015 & 10% by 2020, as noted in the National Renewable Energy Policy of 2008. American engineer Sanwar Sunny said that the city should put more effort in zoning areas to encourage more self-reliant subdivisions and higher density housing around subways to be more sustainable, as during peak times load shedding would not affect everyone. It will reduce effects of power cuts and provide stability to the power sector. He proposed that radio transmitters could be operating remotely in unlicensed radio bands using two way real time communication and transmit coded instructions from the central to the circuit breakers in selected coordinates of the micro grids substations thereby maintain multiple power flow lines with automated control and digital metering. Using this technology, Feed-in tariffs (FIT) would also be possible, as the energy usage could be monitored remotely and private power generation and energy efficient entities could be offered rebates and incentives. "This will also expedite investments in this sector, create job opportunities for engineering graduates and technicians, and ease pressures on the government" he said. Think tanks such as Bangladesh Solar Energy Society and Renewable Energy Institute (REI), along with European International Development Government Agencies such as Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit supported this scheme. However, The Secretary of the Ministry of Power, Government of Bangladesh has said that the government has no plans to do so.{{cite news|url=http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/backpage/132-backpage/66423-experts-for-microgrids-to-ease-power-woes.html |title=Experts for microgrids to ease power woes |work=The Independent |author=Faisal Mahmud |date=20 August 2011 |access-date=31 March 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424000056/http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/backpage/132-backpage/66423-experts-for-microgrids-to-ease-power-woes.html |archive-date=24 April 2012 }}

{{See also|Nuclear energy in Bangladesh}}

To ensure growing energy supply and reducing ghg emission, Bangladesh sees Nuclear energy as a viable option.

To this fact, the govt of Bangladesh has already started construction of the Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant. It will be a 2.4 GWe nuclear power plant and will be the country's first. The power plant is being constructed at Rooppur of Pabna District, on the bank of the river Padma, 87 miles (140 km) west of Dhaka. The first of the two unit is expected to go into operation in 2024. Once completed, the plant is expected to generate around 15% of the nation's electricity demand.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

The current government has decided to construct a 2nd nuclear plant in the southern part of the country.

The possible sites are - Gangamati in Patuakhali, Majher Char in Barguna, Boyar Char in Noakhali and Muhurir Char in Feni. The project is still in early stage of development. Russian, Chinese and Korean companies has expressed interest to build and finance the project.{{citation needed|date=August 2023}}

{{Portal|Bangladesh|Energy}}

• Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission
• Bangladesh Power Development Board
• List of power stations in Bangladesh
• Power Grid Company of Bangladesh
• Electricity sector in India
• Energy policy of India
• Solar power in India

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{{reflist}}

• Islam, 2003 M. Islam, Energy efficiency potentials in the power sector of Bangladesh. 2003 Renewable Energy Information Network (REIN), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh (2003).
• Alam et al., 2004 M.S. Alam, E. Kabir, M.M. Rahman and M.A.K. Chowdhury, Power sector reform in Bangladesh: electricity distribution system, Energy 29 (2004), pp. 1773–1783

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Category:Energy in Bangladesh

Category:Electric power in Bangladesh