“I t is high time that we explore new horizons of renewable energy to scale up country’s electricity production and ensure a greener environment with energy security for our future generation”, said Dipal C. Barua, Founder and Chairman BGEF in an exclusive interview with Bangladesh Post.
Founder and Chairman, Bright Green Energy Foundation (BGEF), Mr. Barua mentioned that Bangladesh has the largest off-grid renewable energy (RE) network in the world. In 1996, the electricity supply was available only to 15% of the population in Bangladesh while 85% of people had no electricity, and more than 100 million people lived without electricity.
Pioneer of renewable energy in Bangladesh, Dipal C. Barua also said now Bangladesh’s total installed power capacity (including captive power plants) is 26,700 MW and per capita electricity generation is 609 kWh. Currently, the total coverage of electricity is 100% including renewable energy which also consists of 3.57% of the country's total power generation.
Replying to a set of queries made by Bangladesh Post, Dipal C. Barua, an internationally acclaimed expert in the renewable energy sector, expressed candidly about the prospects, problems and necessities of the renewable energy in Bangladesh for obtaining sustainable energy efficiencies.
Excerpts of his interview are presented for the valued readers of the Bangladesh Post.
Bangladesh Post: How far the Solar Home System (SHS) could be effective in response to the growing demand of electricity?
Dipal C. Barua: In 1996, in the hope of building an enlightened Bangladesh by providing solar power to the rural underprivileged people of Bangladesh and in response to the growing demand for electricity, I started working on solar energy, biogas, and wind energy by setting up an organization called Grameen Shakti where I was the Founding Managing Director. I introduced an innovative financial model which opened the door for Solar Home Systems (SHS). Later, the SHS became popular among the rural people of Bangladesh for its affordable monthly installment-based financial model over the price of kerosene. I demonstrated the viability of implementing solar power on a large scale to give rural residents access to climate-friendly electricity, light, money, and health. By following the path of my financial model, more than 6.5 million SHS have been installed in remote areas, which is the largest solar program in the world with financial and technical support from IDCOL. More than 15% of Bangladesh's population who were mostly reliant on kerosene fuel for lighting purposes are now enjoying modern electricity from solar energy, thanks to the SHS programme.
Additionally, this programme was able to reduce the consumption of 1.14 million tonnes of kerosene, for which regular cost is almost 411 million USD. Considering each SHS reduces 0.5 tonnes of carbon emission per year, total of 3.25 million tonnes of carbon emission have been reduced by 6.5 million SHS every year so far.
Moreover, through this programme, about 75,000 people have discovered employment prospects. This financial model with the help of government policy support can be replicated in any developing country where energy demand is high and the environment is under threat.
Bangladesh Post: What could be the ultimate prospect of rooftop solar system in a densely populated country like Bangladesh?
Dipal C. Barua: The biggest issue for a country with a high population density like Bangladesh is that solar PV systems require a lot of land space. Rooftop solar systems (RSS) are a good option in this case. It has a huge potential for the existing rooftops, especially in all government buildings, commercial buildings, industrial factories, garments factories, economic zones, and so on.
Different electric utilities (BPDB, BREB, DPDC, DESCO, PGCB, APSCL, EGCB, WZPDCO, NWPGCL, NESCO, RPCL, CPGCBL, B-R Powergen Ltd.) can also add rooftop grid-connected solar energy in their operation areas. Economic zones and government set-ups in different airports, railway stations, BEPZA, land beside highways, embankments, coverings of canals, two sides of bridges, etc have the potential for increasing the number of solar systems.
Around 498 railway stations and along approximately 3600-km-long rail lines in Bangladesh will be significant for solar panel installation having the potential of generating around 1000 MW of electricity. Approximately 4,621 garments factories are currently in operation. They may take the rooftop solar system option gradually. Installing rooftop solar systems in garments, pharmaceutical, footwear, and other factories will:
• Help reduce their total costs and burden of foreign exchange.
• Help improve the quality and increase the quantity of garments exports and earn more foreign currency.
• Subsequently help add to the country’s foreign currency reserve.
One of the processes that can be considered to help Bangladesh reach the goal of renewable energy is net metering. Net Metering Policy has been launched and approved by the government in 2018 for rooftop solar systems. It allows the customer to use solar energy directly and save on the cost of electricity by supplying additional solar power to the grid. The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) of Bangladesh has developed a Solar Energy Roadmap for 20 years from 2021 to 2041. The main objectives of the Solar Energy Roadmap are to:
• Increase the share of RE in the total energy mix
• Ensure energy security and sustainability
• Attract private investments in RE projects
• Achieve global and national RE generation targets, and
• Reduce the rate of GHG emissions
Bangladesh Post: As you are telling about the community-based solar system, please brief us about its significance and impact in our country.
Dipal C. Barua: The community-based solar programme has a very significant impact as:
• 124,948 primary schools using the rooftop can produce over 1250 MW of electricity, 67,000 secondary schools have the potential for 1005 MW, and while 360 MW of electricity can produced with devices set on the rooftops of 3,000 colleges and universities.
• There are 25,450 madrasahs in Bangladesh and by using their rooftops it is possible to produce over 254 MW of electricity.
• There are 300,000 mosques, temples, and other religious build ings and it is possible to produce over 1500 MW of electricity by using their rooftops.
So, the total potential of community-based solar programme is 4,369 MW.
Bangladesh Post: Now please tell us about the initiatives in this connection.
Dipal C. Barua: Already 9 Utility Scale Solar Projects have been completed and a total of 261 MWp has already been connected to the National Grid Line. Implementation is ongoing for a total of 8 projects with a capacity of 551.49 MWp and a total of 1,394.17 MWp is under planning.
A 40.3 MW Rooftop Solar Power Plant will be installed at the Export Processing Zone / Economic Zone in Chattogram. In the 1st phase, a 16MW Solar PV Power Plant has been installed, which is the country’s single largest Rooftop Solar Power Plant. Another 4.3 MW plant is in the process. In phase-2, the 20MW system to be set up within a 12-month timeframe of the project – awaits approval from the government.
To generate 1500 MW of electricity from the Rooftop Solar Program through comprehensive Action Plans within December 2023, the government needs to take initiatives to restructure the Power Division to accommodate the expansion of RE and give more resources and strengthen SREDA. Achieving this amount of electricity from Rooftop Solar within December 2023 will have the following outcomes:
• Help recover from the present energy crisis in the country.
• Help achieve the government's RE generation target.
• Less fossil fuel (oil, gas, etc.) import.
• Save foreign exchange which can easily be used in other important sectors.
Bangladesh Post: What prospect can you see in terms of solar-based irrigation programme?
Dipal C. Barua: Solar-based irrigation systems can be an innovative and environment-friendly solution to mitigate the influence of climate change for saving the agro-based economy of Bangladesh. About 11.63% of GDP comes from agriculture in our country and over 1.3 million diesel-operated pumps are currently running in the fields.
As many as 2873 solar irrigation pumps (SIPs) have been installed, which generate around 53.85 MW of electricity. This system has the possibility of generating up to 6,500 MW for solar irrigation, which will replace the use of diesel pumps in rural areas.
Each SIP replaces five shallow pumps and potentially over 1.3 million shallow pumps can be easily replaced by approximately 260,000 SIPs by 2030 which will generate up to 6,500 MW of electricity by preventing 20.8 million tonnes of carbon emissions.
Bangladesh Post: What are your concluding remarks?
Dipal C. Barua: Bangladesh has already signed the historic Paris Climate Agreement, which is a global response to the threat of climate change by keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius in this century.
The development of renewable energy (RE) and the optimum implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are closely linked and should be propelled hand in hand. RE augmentation could be an integral driving force for achieving the SDG targets.
Out of 17 SDGs, Goal 7 (ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all) and Goal 13 (take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts) are directly linked with the proper promotion of renewable energy sources.
Rooftop solar systems can be a role model for the sustainable development of renewable energy and the well-being of the environment.