It is good to note that the government is working to generate 40 per cent power from the clean energy by 2041 and import about 9,000MW under the regional and sub-regional cooperation from neighbouring countries. The government also set a target of 10 per cent of the total power generation from renewable energy sources by 2041.
Clean energy has become an important source for power generation in many parts of the world. Having no or little emission -of exhaust and poisonous gases like carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, most clean energy sources produce little global warming emissions. Despite the world leaning towards clean energy to ensure energy security, keeping carbon dioxide emissions at a low level in the face of adverse climate change, the growth of green energy in Bangladesh is slow, to say the least.
While experts realise that tackling climate change is impossible without reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the reliance on fossil fuels, many say that the transition to renewable is not going to be easy. Reportedly, the government has set a target to add some 1675MW of electricity to the national grid from renewable energy by 2024. But in reality, a maximum of 50 MW of electricity can be added to the national grid. Because, the construction work of most of the power plant projects are going on slowly.
The government should formulate
and implement new policies to
increase the production and
consumption of renewable energy
As a part of the government's initiatives to embrace renewable energy, 10 proposed coal-fired power plants with an estimated capacity of 9346 megawatts (MW) of electricity were scrapped last year. It is good to note that the government has revisited its energy policy and such steps will be helpful for safeguarding the environment indeed.
Sustainable and renewable energy is the future of energy sector. The government should formulate and implement new policies to increase the production and consumption of renewable energy. Renewable energy currently contributes approximately 4 per cent to the country's national energy power mix. However, in order to increase it, the government should devise a number of initiatives, including allowing tax-free import of the tools and equipment which are needed for environment-friendly energy production
There is no denying that over the last ten years the incumbent government has developed the power sector in a planned way addressing it as one of the most essential sectors for sustainable development of the country. We are now self-sufficient in power generation and our generation capacity surpasses our demand. The power situation has improved in big cities including Dhaka but load shedding is happening in District, Upazila and village areas due to limitation of transmission and distribution system. Therefore, focus should be given on improving the power distribution and transmission system in villages instead of increasing generation capacity.
