Promoting renewable energy sources
Developing countries including Bangladesh are in a vulnerable situation in matters of energy demand. They are also searching for alternative energy sources as well as renewable energies. Today, energy has become the focus of worldwide debate. At present energy systems generate severe economic, strategic-political conflicts and environmental deterioration. In this context, renewable energies are playing a vital role in the new model of development as well as poverty elimination process -- development that is clean and efficient. Developing renewable energies can also renew development worldwide including Bangladesh. The first evidence of introducing renewable energies took place in the developed countries back in 1970s or earlier when, in regard of political crises and exponential rise in the price of oil governments became aware of the need for greater energy independence. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA) which analyses the evolution of energy markets in developed countries, the contribution of renewable energies (including large hydroelectric infrastructures) to the energy on offer increased from 141.5 Mtoe (4.6%) in 1970 to 280.9 (5.5%) in 2001. Over the last three decades of last century, the contribution of renewable energies has increased on average by 2.2% while the total energy on offer has increased by 1.6% over the same period. Whereas the contribution of renewable energies (such as hydroelectric or geothermal) declined, that of new renewable energies (such as solar or wind) increased by 23% between 1980 and 2001.The IEA member governments distributed about 291 billion USD for energy research, development and deployment from 1974 to 2002. In the same period, investments for research development and deployment in renewable energies in developed countries estimated to be close to 23.55 billion USD, 8% of the total funds allocated. On the other hand, developing countries including Bangladesh are in a vulnerable situation in matters of energy demand. They are also searching for alternative energy sources as well as renewable energies such as solar, wind, biomass, sea water and geo-thermal etc. Because of the constant increase in energy demand, limitation of oil production, global reserves are decreasing. Dependency on fossil fuel imports from countries that are often politically unstable is brought with scarcity and excessive prices. The growth of renewable energy sources in developing countries has started to be exponential. In 2005 for example, China invested 7 billion USD, and India overtook Japan in terms of installed renewable capacity. China comes out as the leader in annual investments, first for solar heated water, third in ethanol production and fifth in wind energy. India on the other hand is fourth in wind energy and solar heated water investments. Of the 43 countries that have national renewable energy targets, especially eights are emerging economies: China, Brazil, India, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Egypt and South Africa. According to Renewable Energy Policy of Bangladesh, published on November 06, 2008, the objectives are: * Harnessing the potential of renewable energy resources and dissemination of renewable energy technologies in rural, peri-urban and urban areas; * Enabling, encouraging, and facilitating both public and private sector investment in renewable energy projects; * Developing sustainable energy supplies to substitute indigenous non-renewable energy supplies; * Scaling up contributions of renewable energy to electricity production; * Promoting appropriate, efficient and environment friendly use of renewable energy; * Training and for facilitating the use of renewable energy at every level of energy usage; * Creating enabling environment and legal support to encourage the use of renewable energy; * Promoting development of local technology in the field of renewable energy; * Promoting clean energy for CDM. * Setting targets for developing renewable energy resources to meet 5% of the total power demand by 2015 and 10% by 2020. There are many sources of renewable energy, such as -- solar photovoltaic, solar thermal power, wind energy, biomass, biogas, hydropower and other renewable energy sources including; bio-fuels, gasohol, geothermal, river current, wave and tidal energy etc. Of them, solar power and wind power are very important sources for Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Bangladesh has found small potential windows from the solar power. In June 2008, solar photovoltaic systems were used in the country -- about 200,000 household-level installations having capacity of 12 MW. This is too small in the face of increasing demand. On the other hand for wind power based electricity generation it is 2 MW with installed turbines at Feni and Kutubdia. Recommendations to promote renewable energies: * Direct public investment and facilitation * Market access policies, including price fixing, setting quotas, programs for small producers etc. * Public-private partnership investment * Strong incentives to research and development of available renewable energy resources. * Public awareness and technical training facilities * Plan of action for the dissemination of use of renewable energies * Job security by developing the renewable energy sector.
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