3.1. Solar energy

The power crisis becomes severely unbearable in rural areas in Bangladesh because these areas are settled far away from the power distribution line (Ahmed et al., 2014). Supplying the grid power system in coastal and hill track region is a more expensive and challenging issue. In Bangladesh, some people have deprived of electricity connectivity because they do not have access to grid electricity. In the absence of electricity, approximately fifteen million rural people use kerosene lamps in their homes (Muzammil and Ahmed, 2019). In this situation, a perfect solution to supply energy in those rural areas can be the SHS (Khan et al., 2020). In rural areas, people can get some benefits immediately by installing SHS onto the rooftops of their houses (Khan et al., 2015a). It enables people to have light in their houses, easier for their children to study at nighttime, and they can watch TV. Furthermore, by reducing the uses of kerosene, it can minimize the household air pollution. Thus, SHS can easily contribute to lowering carbon dioxide emissions. Conventional energy sources are not responsible for environment pollution, but they are also limited. On the contrary, solar energy is available and eco-friendly everywhere in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is an undisputable tropical country for solar radiation. For installing, the SHS there is good news. To encourage people to use the SHS in rural areas in Bangladesh, the government has taken some important initiatives. Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) started the SHS program in January 2003. The electricity for all citizens of Bangladesh by 2021 will confirm the government's plan by IDCOL. The company is a Bangladeshi government establishment owned by a non-banking financial institute that financed the installation of more than 4.13 million SHS in rural areas in January 2019 (Source: IDCOL Projects and Programs). Bangladesh should show further attention to increase the effect of SHS in the financial and economic aspects of market performance (Hossain et al., 2021). First, the beneficiaries of SHS have their ownership by making a down payment of only 10%. A monthly installment is prepared through micro finance institutions (MFI) to pay the remaindered money.

Fig. 4 shows a map of the installation of SHS in Bangladesh. The program has ensured to supply solar electricity around 12% people of the country's total population (about 18 million people). It has a target to install about six million SHS with the capacity of 220 MW of electricity in rural areas of Bangladesh within the year 2021. The highest SHS (1,30,000 to 2,25,000) installments are in Sunamganj and Patuakhali district. There are some disadvantages in SHS like high installation cost and short back up time. It is possible to overcome the disadvantages of the situation if all people in rural areas with a cost-effective installation exponentially accept the SHS. Day by day, the field of off-grid renewable energy has become successful in Bangladesh, and the SHS slowly become a global model.

1. Download : Download high-res image (2MB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Fig. 4

The irrigation process by using water is the most important of any developing country for agricultural crop cultivation. The process can influence a vital role in the agricultural sector in Bangladesh, which locates in a tropical delta region. The solar irrigation process holds a huge potential in Bangladesh, and it can provide sustainable development without requiring any fuel (Islam et al., 2017). The Solar Irrigation Pump (SIP) is a new way of agricultural cultivation in Bangladesh (Hossain et al., 2015). The uninterrupted electricity supply is the success of the irrigation process. Recently in Bangladesh, the crop cultivation lands have expanded through irrigation processes that result in increased agricultural development. Therefore, excess of the agricultural crop would develop the social economic infrastructure in Bangladesh. Previously the northern part of Bangladesh was not suitable for paddy cultivation. The lack of water just for one day can severely affect the crop quality and yield that timely irrigation is a vital point. Most of the farmers in this region were dependent on the expensive diesel water pump for irrigation. A diesel pump run by diesel to grow crops on the land can require in every Boro season. However, the pump could not supply enough water due to the insufficient water of the place, and they used to have a poor harvest. For getting rid of these problems, there was a challenge for the farmers. Sometimes, they would spend their entire days in the local market to get the pumps. They would pay the high rents for the distribution and the diesel fuel. Often the diesel price was going up in the local market, and they would pay more than the government has approved rate. For paddy cultivation, it was the common problem of the northern part of Bangladesh. In October 2015, solar-powered irrigation reached for their whereabouts. Now, this technology can establish near their land. One SIP can easily cover up for about 12 ha of the land and provide 500,000 L of water per day. All the farmers share the cost of a SIP, which provides water for their fields. Their irrigation cost has almost halved by using the way. With the installed SIPs, water can supply without trouble now and make sufficient profit than before from their lands. Previously, they are waiting to collect diesel for their pumps for a long duration to the irrigation purpose. SIPs improve the quality of lifestyle for farmers of the northern part of Bangladesh. Now they have more time for other productive purposes. SIPs can contribute to the resilience of climate change in the agriculture side and make food security stronger in Bangladesh. Supply water for irrigation without any trouble can support agricultural productivity increase. In the remote areas far from the grid, the farmers have remained worried about getting water for a good harvest by irrigation. The World Bank supported the government's work to install 11,500 SIPs by 2018. Later, after identifying the aspects of SIPs and their acceptance among farmers, the aim has revised to 50,000 for 2025. This means about a quarter million diesel water pumps will be placed in Bangladesh. The place has been well suited for the country's flat terrain and abundant sunshine by using low-cost technology. The rural electrification is guiding solar-powered irrigation solutions with a public-private partnership model. Shakti solar pump plays a prominent function in installing these pumps for irrigation in Bangladesh. This pump is a partner organization (PO) of IDCOL that provided 15 MW SIPs so far and intends to improve this amount to 50 MW by the end of 2020. The implementing agency, IDCOL channels grant and credit funding to the non-government organizations and private financiers who set the SIP. So far, about 925 SIPs have been in operation mode benefiting more than 3300 decimals of land for paddy and 1815 decimals of land for vegetable cultivation. The farmers think it is more affordable and easier to install SIPs than installing traditional diesel pump systems. They have no moving parts, function without pollution or noise, and need little maintenance. The solar irrigation process in Bangladesh authorities should replace diesel-based water pumps with SIP. It will be possible to produce three types of crops during the year. We recommend that some initiatives should take to find private-sector sponsors to install more SIPs in the country, because, more SIPs mean more production, profits, and development for Bangladesh. Moreover, Bangladesh will be able to reduce carbon emissions if the SIPs are in operation mode.

In order to gain 10 percent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2021, the government of Bangladesh initiative some solar power plant projects around 1070 MW capacity. Tamal Chowdhury et al. (2020b) developed and evaluated a stand-alone hybrid power system for the Rohingya refugee community in Kutupalong camp, Ukhia, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. For maximum energy gain, the magnetic flux and solar irradiation are combined through modern technology. Ohirul Qays et al. (2020) have developed the technology based on solar power and magnetic field prototype in Bangladesh. Recently, 200 MW Teknaf solar park, 50 MW Sutiakhali, Mymensingh solar park, and 32 MW Sunamganj solar park in Bangladesh, and other utility scale solar PV farms have been proposed. A solar power plant has started its operation with a power generation capacity of 28 MW in Teknaf of Cox's bazar. Technaf Solartech Energy Ltd. (TSEL) has set this power plant in Teknaf by getting benefits from 116 acres of land. Currently, the power plant has been giving the national grid 20 MW energy. The authority of TSEL has informed that this power plant itself is capable of providing 80 percent of the power demand of Teknaf Upazila. The Aukhali area in Hinla union of Teknaf Upazila, this power plant is situated. The Cox's bazar-Teknaf autobahn on the east side, it's located. Totally 86,000 solar panels have been used to build up the plant, and it has five sub-stations. The construction of a 20 MW on-grid solar park has been a proper step for Bangladesh in the right direction to reduce the dependence on non-renewable energy sources (Liza and Islam, 2020). The state-of-the-art facility has been set up by using panels brought from outside the country. The government allows tax and vat-free imported solar machinery, which helps the country for green energy production. Kazi Meharajul Kabir et al. (2020) designed a grid-connected hybrid power system with constant supply. Hasan Masrur et al. (2020) analyzed the techno-economic-environmental suitability of an isolated micro-grid system located on a remote island in Bangladesh. Around one million people and thousands of small and medium business places are getting benefits by using this solar power plant in this region. Another solar power plant is being constructed around 100 km north of Dhaka in the Mymensingh district of Bangladesh. Under a power purchase agreement, the generated power will be supplied for the BPDB. This solar power plant is the second largest solar power plant among approved plans in Bangladesh. This plant will also contribute to easing the power shortage in the country. CO2 emission reduction will increase by using the latest heterojunction solar PV modules with superior performance (Ahmmed et al., 2020). Korea-Bangladesh consortium is going to construct a 32 MW solar power plants with the fast supply of power and energy in the Sunamganj district. The consortium that includes Korea based on Edison Solitec Company and on Haor Bangla Korean Green Energy will establish, own and run the solar power plant. A 35 Km long 132 KV transmission line will be constructed up to the Netrokona national grid point by being paid by the consortium. This solar power plant will play a significant role in the development of the hoar area according to the master power development plan. Currently, several attempts have been made of fuel diversity in Bangladesh by using solar PV systems (Das, 2020).

In Bangladesh, the rooftop solar system is one of the most important applications of solar energy (Jamal et al., 2014). Recently, this system has opened up a new opportunity for industrial consumers by utilizing their idle roof spaces for power generation (Shafique et al., 2020). By using the rooftop solar system, it is possible to reduce the dependence of grid electricity (Chakraborty et al., 2014). Kazi Wohiduzzaman et al. (2014) studied a socio-economic impact by using rooftop solar panels conducted in the rural areas of greater Sylhet, Bangladesh. They explored the improvement in lifestyle by introducing rooftop SHS. The solar power system has become as competitive as conventional energy by increasing technological advances. We hope that day by day it will become cheaper, compared to grid electricity for industrial consumers. The government of Bangladesh launched net metering guidelines to incentivize the rooftop solar power system on July 28, 2018. Net metering allows electricity consumers to connect their rooftop solar systems to the distribution grid line (Miah et al., 2020). Thus, any surplus electricity from the rooftop solar system can easily be supplied for the country's grid line. They can be an immense opportunity to host rooftop solar power systems for their industrial operation purpose. The huge volume of rooftop space is available in Bangladesh's garment industry for electricity generation by using the rooftop solar system. Recently, the government of Bangladesh has pledged rooftop power generation on all high-rises buildings. They expect to add 300 MW of rooftop solar power system within the next four years. The high-rise owners can install rooftop solar power systems themselves for self-consumption. Four government buildings, such as children and women directorate building, education building, food department, and Shilpakala academy have already completed the 250 KW rooftop solar power systems. Basundhara Industrial Complex in Dhaka has decided to install the rooftop solar power system with a 2.46 MW electricity generation capacity. Recently, the government has aimed to add 10 percent power to the national grid line from renewable energy sources. According to their requirements, the Omera Renewable Energy Limited (OREL) targets to produce 200 MW of electricity from rooftop solar installations by 2021.

3.2. Hydro energy

Always it has been true, and it will remain true that the secure, reliable, and affordable supply of electricity is important for the industrial and economic development of any country in the world. The flowing water creates force, which can convert into electrical energy. The force of flowing water based on gravity is the most common use of renewable energy in the worldwide now. Water flowing is used as a clean energy source of hydroelectricity generation (Amin et al., 2019). Recently, the global hydropower install capacity has reached up to 1267 GW that forms the largest share of electricity gained from renewable energy sources. Hydropower energy is an eco-friendly, clean power generation process. Bangladesh has categorized a subtropical zone monsoonal climate where abundant rainfall. Most of the land has spread around the Bay of Bengal on the Indian subcontinent along the delta area. These lands are lower than 9 m above the sea level. There are many rivers, tributaries of main-river, and canals have well tiny waterfalls having good potential for setting up mini or micro hydropower units. For this circumstance, here has relatively limited hydropower plant even though the abundant water resources. The hydroelectricity capability in Bangladesh is one of the foremost primary energy resources because the source of hydro energy (lakes and rivers) remains untapped, but the current utilization of this energy is very limited yet (Islam et al., 2013). In Bangladesh, Karnafuli hydropower station in the Chittagong hill tract area, the hydropower plant has been established with an installed capacity of 230 MW. There are five units in this power plant. The JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) has extended the helping hand to set up two new units, each of which has 50 MW generation capacities. There are some problems around for this power plant. The environmental impact assessment was not attained during establishes. This problem has happened with conflicts between the indigenous and migrated people who were living around this power plant. One caused was a compensation issue during established the Dam. The entry to the area has restricted due to law-and-order problems. Despite these causes, the government of Bangladesh establishes other hydropower plants for power system stability. In Barkal Upazila of Rangamati district, a 50 kW micro-hydro power plant was settled in 2005. Now this power plant rehabilitation continues. At Mirershorai Chittagong, another micro hydro power plant of 50 kW capacities is in the construction state. This power plant is known as Mohamaya irrigation-cum-hydropower project. Another hydropower plants BPDB identified in Bangladesh are on two sites as Matamuhuri (75 MW) and Sangu (140 MW).

The generating and supplying electricity from hydropower plants is a cheaper way. It is cheaper than solar energy and easier to maintain. For this reason, recently worldwide, it is well known as the leading renewable resource for electricity generation. It offers a viable form of electricity generation for remote areas where the water flow is available. In Asian hydropower production, Bangladesh has the lowest capacity compared to other countries. The hydropower plant appears to be limited due to the flat terrain of land in Bangladesh. Moreover, the government is working to increase capacity by commissioning more projects. Hydropower electricity generation has limited potential in Bangladesh without the Chittagong hill tracts region. For this reason, they also plan to establish a tiny hydropower plant for remote villages in the Chittagong hill tracts area. They surveyed the potential hydropower sites for ordinary and pumped storage hydropower plants. Fig. 5 shows the location map of potential sites for pumped storage hydropower plants in Bangladesh. The sites were conducted based on the results of this survey. The preferable potential sites 17 and 13 has evaluated and selected for pumped storage hydropower plant project. However, the projects will difficult at present conditions because acquisition to the compensation for land due to local people live. In the future, expected the selected potential sites would develop gradually to increases the stability of the power system.

1. Download : Download high-res image (745KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Fig. 5

Fig. 6 show the potential sites of small-scale hydropower plants location map in Bangladesh. The assumption came to the JICA survey team by the number of sites for limited visits that most of the potential sites due to the relatively gentle flow along the Sangu main river may cause large-scale resettlements. According to the technical and economic viability, there are some prospective sites. It may not be a preferable site to implement in order to the social impact and environmental aspects.

1. Download : Download high-res image (689KB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Fig. 6

The potential sites on the tributaries of the Sangu River are anticipated, particularly in the dry season, it has limited water flow. Thus, the sites seem not a financially viable site. In this circumstance, these sites seem unfavourable for the establish of hydropower plant projects. The targets can be achieved for optimization of the hydropower plant in this area under as follows:

• ❖

  The initial survey and planning of the development is required the topographic maps for infrastructure with water flowing facilities.

• ❖

  The authority should develop and arrange detailed maps essential for conceptual design and further planning.

• ❖

  The implementing agency requires finding out a solution for the local people and gain to understanding for the necessity of hydropower plants.

• ❖

  In this region, the authority should reduce concerns over security.

The road map can be settled to the development of these hydropower plants by 2030 under as follows:

• ❖

  As soon as possible, Chittagong hill tract areas topographic maps should be prepared.

• ❖

  The field study, design, capacity build-up, and establish the organization engaged in the hydropower development plants should be completed.

• ❖

  Human resource development will also be required.

• ❖

  Any implementing organization should be provided the required training about power plants to responsible staff and operators.

• ❖

  A significant function has stabilization by the power system.

• ❖

  The commencement of these power plant constructions should start soon to overcome the electricity crisis.

We hope that the pumped storage or small-scale hydropower plants between 30 kW and 5 MW through the government's renewable energy plan would be established soon to overcome the electricity crisis.

3.3. Wind energy

The rotational force of a fan blade through the wind created wind energy that is one of the renewable energy sources. A conversion form of wind velocity can convert mechanical to electrical energy. North and south western part of Bangladesh, geologically, it occupies the mountain area. The Bay of Bengal is situated in the southern part of the country. There is more wind speed is found in the month June–July while it low in the month October–February. It is observe more than 4.5 m/s in the north-eastern zone and around 3.5 m/s in rest of the country (Ramachandra et al., 2005). For this reason, it has a great possibility to generate wind energy to mitigate the power crisis. Only a few years ago, research about the field of wind energy began in coastal areas in Bangladesh, and it showed good potential in this country. There have many opportunities in the island and coastal areas for utilized wind energy to generating electricity. The small wind generator has been installed by non-government agencies in coastal areas. The wind is available during the monsoons period in Bangladesh. It flows generally on the coastal areas such as Patenga, Cox's Bazar, Teknaf, Char Fassion, Kutubdia, Sondwip, Kuakata, and Mongla region of Bangladesh (Chowdhury et al., 2018). The cyclones approaching these areas usually increase substantially. It can play an important influence as a sustainable solution to overcome the electricity crisis in Bangladesh. The wind turbine can establish in these areas by proper investigation and analysis. The Bay of Bengal of Bangladesh has numerous small-sized islands and a long coastline area of about 725 km. There is wind flowing at high speeds in the southern part of Bangladesh in the summer period. In the winter period, there is wind flowing at minimum speeds in the northern part of Bangladesh. Fig. 7 shows the basic wind speed map of Bangladesh (Khan, 2017).

1. Download : Download high-res image (2MB)
2. Download : Download full-size image

Fig. 7

There is a chance of generating electricity by using the wind turbine in the coastal areas, riversides, and offshore islands where the wind is strong. Primarily 22 potential sites were selected by BPDB for getting wind power energy in Bangladesh. BPDB installed four units of wind power plant having the capacity of 900 kW to provide the electricity need in Bangladesh. Grid connected wind power plants are installed on the Muhuri Dam area of the Sonagazi in Feni district. Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies (BCAS) installed a wind pump (Chittagong) with a 12-blade rotor of 40 ft high tower in Patenga, where the flow of water about 8000 L/day in the periods between November and January. We expect an annual 150 kW wind power from Kutubdia and Kuakata that the energy will increase from 133 to 160 MWh. Another plan of BPDB is to build up a wind power plant with a capacity of 50–200 MW in the Parky Beach area, Anwara, Chittagong. They are also planning a hybrid power plant based on wind energy and diesel, which will have a capacity of 7.5 MW in Hatiya Island, Noakhali. Moreover, Bangladesh Banking Company (BBC) has installed four hybrid wind power plants that consist of wind turbines and diesel generators. The wind turbine power generator that is able to work water pump, light, fan, etc. is connected to four cyclone shelters. One of them is particularly used as a cyclone shelter, and others are used in Grameen Bank branches. BBC also settles two wind generators having capacities of 300 W and 1 kW at the Chakoria Shrimp Farm and four small wind generators (3 × 1.5 kW + 10 kW) in Barguna. In addition, in many seasides, Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) has already built up some small wind turbines. Government targets to produce around 650 MW of electricity from wind energy by 2021. The realization of wind energy can develop in the Chittagong hilly and coastal areas under as follows carefully:

• ❖

  Assessment of all wind resources should be completed within the short term.

• ❖

  Proper installation and utilization of mini wind turbines could be cost-effective for our economy.

• ❖

  The wind energy should be connected to the national grid line.

• ❖

  The government can be achieved the maximum potential power by wind energy utilization.

• ❖

  The wind energy can be an effective opportunity for stabilizing the power system and improving power policy.

Within this issue, wind energy will have a significant contribution to the global climate change and carbon concept solution under the changed circumstances in Bangladesh. The target achievement has not been established yet in Bangladesh. However, all of the issues have some potential activities. Take the necessary initiative in determining target achievements because, day by day, it will become more difficult. The required frequency quality should be standard because it maintains the relationship between cost and benefit for consumers. The failure of power generators with wind efficiency has sufficient for chronically decreases the capacity.

The variability problem of renewable energy such as solar and wind energy can be solved by the following key solutions:

• ❖

  Policy and government support

• ❖

  Land for renewable energy development

• ❖

  Grid network

• ❖

  Renewable energy resources and potential

• ❖

  Renewable energy finance

• ❖

  Procurement

• ❖

  Capacity development

The policy interventions are useful, such as tax incentives and the promotion of private participation in the power generation sector. The majority of its guidelines are formulated if they were to have any benefits for developers and investors. The government targets outline not achieved in the short-term policies. They can provide clarity on long-term renewable energy development planning. They can also create an integrated master plan for consideration the least-cost and energy security plan for low carbon emission around the country. Government institutions can ensure the plan through their proper activities. Bangladesh is a densely populated country. The people rely heavily on the land for agriculture. Land availability has the development of utility-scale of this energy utilization. The non-agricultural land in Bangladesh has situated on the floodplains of rivers and in coastal areas. The experience of solar energy developers is erosion protection is often necessary. It has carefully considered that it can support private developers. Solar and wind power used land very differently. Wind power has to perfect onto non-agricultural land areas. Recently, approval for erosion protection measures is required from multiple government agencies. The government required the idea of using land that identifies options for the land used for utility-scale renewable energy. The government needs to study to identify the grid capacity of renewable energy plants. The future renewable energy plants are expected to the connected far from the existing grid transmission line. Renewable energy resource potential in Bangladesh has been an effort to make the map. Some non-government authority has assessed this energy. In Bangladesh, research work needs to be done by involving international agencies. The research units at government universities can increase capacity building. Develop the private utility-scale renewable energy projects are financing from commercial banks. Day by day, the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh has developed by institutional capacity.