RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH

Abstract

In Bangladesh, nearly 72% of the population lives in rural areas and renewable energy is considered to be the right choice for providing clean energy to these remote settlements. To meet energy demands, renewable energy can be a promising resource to solve the power energy problem at a great extent and can contribute to achieve sustainable Here we have discussed about different forms of renewable energy sources that we can use to meet the increasing power demand of Bangladesh. This work reports the present scenario and future prospects of renewable energy in Bangladesh.

Full text

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


1
RENEWABLE ENERGY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH
1 Sayem Ahmed, NandiniBhowmik and 2 M. A. Rashid Sarkar
1Lecturer, MPE, AUST and 2 Professor, ME, BUET
sayeemahmed64@gmail.com
ABSTRACT: In Bangladesh, nearly 72% of the population lives in rural areas and renewable energy is considered
to be the right choice for providing clean energy to these remote settlements. To meet energy demands, renewable
energy can be a promising resource to solve the power energy problem at a great extent and can contribute to
achieve sustainable Here we have discussed about different forms of renewable energy sources that we can use to
meet the increasing power demand of Bangladesh. This work reports the present scenario and future prospects of
renewable energy in Bangladesh.
Keywords: renewable energy, solar energy, biogas energy, wind energy, biogas, biomass.
1. INTRODUCTION:
Bangladesh has a large unsatisfied demand for energy, which is growing by 10 percent annually. It is one of the
densely populated countries which have not sufficient supply of energy. The present crisis in power supply hints at
the troublesome time to come ahead. Electricity is a very important factor in developing the economy and the
standard of living of a country. It must be generated using the national resource of that country. Bangladesh largely
depends on natural gas and hydro power stations to generate major portion of power. The country lags behind than
its expected production capacity. Electricity is the major source of power for most of the country's economic
activities. Bangladesh's installed electric generation capacity was 10289 MW in January, 2014[12]. Only 62% of the
population has access to electricity with a per capita availability of 321 kWh per annum. Though many power
generation units have been added to the national grid to solve the power crisis issue, it is not enough. High demand
and increasing need of power have created challenge for the power stations to meet the demand. In our country, a
major portion of total population still does not have the access to electricity. Only 10% of the rural households have
electricity connection and there are some parts of Bangladesh which will not get the access of electricity connection
from the national grid within next 30 years. To meet the current energy demand there is no alternative to renewable
energies such as solar, wind, biomass etc. besides other existing sources. To solve this energy crisis we can
usedifferent form of renewable energy to generate power. Renewable energy is the energy that comes from different
types of natural resources mainly from sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geo thermal heat, biodiesel, biofuel etc.
Bangladesh has a vast potential for renewable energy and the natural availability of alternative energy creates
opportunities of Growth in power sector. Not only the technologies should be developed to produce energy in an
environment friendly manner but also enough importance should be given to conserve the energy in most efficient
form.
Government of Bangladesh has set up the goal of providing electricity to all by 2020 and to ensure reliable and
quality supply of electricity at a reasonable and affordable price. Sustainable social and economic development
depends on adequate power generation capacity of a country. There is no other way for accelerating development
except to increase the power generation by fuel diversification. Development of Renewable Energy is one of the
important strategies adopted as part of Fuel Diversification Program. In line with the Renewable Energy policy
2009, the Government is committed to facilitate both public and private sector investment in Renewable Energy
projects to substitute indigenous non- renewable energy supplies and scale up contributions of existing Renewable
Energy based electricity productions. The Renewable Energy Policy envisions that 5% of total energy production
will have to be achieved by 2015 and 10% by 2020. To achieve this target, GOB is looking for various options
preferably Renewable Energy resources. Under the existing generation scenario of Bangladesh, Renewable Energy
has a very small share to the total generation. The share of Renewable Energy exceeds more than 1% till now. The
present Government is placing priority on developing Renewable Energy resources to improve energy security and
to establish a sustainable energy regime alongside of conventional energy sources. Government has already
launched “500 MW Solar Power Mission” to promote the use of Renewable Energy to meet the increasing demand
of electricity.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


2
2. ENERGY STATUS & PRESENT SCENARIO:
About 80% of the installed electricity generation capacity is based on natural gas. In the year 2004-2005, the natural
gas production was 13,783 MWh and the total installed electricity generation capacity was 4995 MW (BBS, 2007,
p.240). In the same fiscal year, the total electricity generation was 22,006 million kWh and about 88.83% of the total
generation used natural gas as primary fuel (ibid, p. 241). In spite of government initiative, the per capita
commercial energy was 210 kg of oil equivalent (ADB, 2004, p.2). According to a published data of the BPDP on
June, 2006, 42.09% of the population has the access of grid electricity and per capita electricity consumption is
162.92 kWh in Bangladesh. The per capita commercial energy and electricity consumption in Bangladesh is one of
the lowest among the developing countries.
At present, 53% of the total electricity generation of Bangladesh is from the power plants under public sector and
47% of the net generation of the country is from private sector. Even though many extra units both from public and
private sector have been added to the national grid, the power crisis is still a big issue in the country. So due to high
demand, maximum generation of 3812 MW in 2005-06, 3718 in 2006-07, 4130 MW in 2007-08, 4037 MW in
2008-09 could not remove power crisis in the country. In public sector, most of our power stations of the country
have become very old and they are operating lower than their rated capacity with de-rated machineries. The demand
of electricity cannot not be met due to this insufficient production of electricity around the country and as most of
our power stations depend primarily on natural gas as fuel, because of the shortage of gas supply some power plants
are unable to produce power of their rated generation capacity. Beside natural gas based power plants, other power
plants are Hydro Electric Plant at Kaptai, the coal based plant at Barapukuria and several other power plants around
the country. In most cases, we have failed to use our national resources to get maximum power output. Industrial
production and house hold life are regularly hampered due to regular load shedding problem which is hampering our
economy as well as making us lag behind. As a result of the power crisis, degradation of the fossil fuel resource,
deforestation, environmental pollution is going on which is causing natural disasters. If this situation continues,
industries will face loss due to power crisis, production will become low and eventually economy of the country will
fall behind which will cause the major industries to shut down resulting into poverty and unemployment. We can get
rid of this situation through renewable energy. Renewable energy can help us improve the condition of power crisis
and help usmove forward economically and environmentally. Moreover, the environmental drawbacks of renewable
energy sources are minimum.
Table 1 Current power generation capacity of renewable energy
Category Achievement
1. SHS 150 MW
2. Solar Irrigation 1 MW
3. Roof Top solar PV at Government, Power sector office buildings and at newly
constructed buildings 14 MW
4. Wind Energy 2 MW
5. Biomass based electricity <1 MW
6. Biogas based electricity 5 MW
7. Hydro power 230 MW
Total 403 MW
2.1 Solar Energy:
The sun is the largest object in our solar system and one of the larger stars in our galaxy. The energy that comes to
the Earth is in 2 main forms, heat and light.The amount of energy from the Sun that reaches the Earth annually is 4 x
1018 Joules. 4 x 1018 Joules/ Year ÷ 365 Days/ Year = 1 x 1016 Joules/ Day.1 x 1016 Joules/ Day ÷ 24 Hours/ Day = 4
x 1014 Joules/ Hour.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


3
The amount of energy consumed annually by the world's population is about 3 x 1014 Joules. Every hour, enough
sunlight energy reaches the Earth to meet the world’s energy demand for a whole year.
Bangladesh is a subtropical country, 70% of year sunlight is dropped in Bangladesh. For this reason, we can use
solar panels to produce electricity largely.
Bangladesh is located between 200 30´ and 260 45´ north latitude and the climate is tropical, the very location makes
Bangladesh good recipient of solar energy [24]. Bangladesh has a total area of 1.49E+ 11 m2 and an average of 5
kWh / m2 solar radiation falls on this land over 300 days per annum[8]. Figure 1 [13] clearly shows that Bangladesh
got on average around 200-250 W/m² of sunlight.
Fig. 1: Average Insolation showing land area. Insolation for most people is from 150 to 300 W/m² or 3.5 to 7.0
kWh/m²/day. [13]
The total solar energy reaching Bangladesh is 180×109 MW hr/year which is 105 times the energy generated as
electricity [24].
2.2 Solar photovoltaic:
Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are in use throughout the country with over 2.9 million household-level
installations having a capacity of 122.2 MW (April 2014). Scaling-up of solar PV systems assisted by the
development partners are being implemented through Infrastructure Development Company Limited
(IDCOL), Rural Electrification Board (REB),Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh
Power Development Board (BPDB), NGOs and Private Organizations implementing solar energy program. There is
a strong potential for solar energy within the country. Dissemination of solar home systems (SHSs) is being
promoted up to 150 MW by IDCOL,private sector companies and NGOs based on the direct-sale approach and
provision of refinancing funds for micro-financing of SHSs to participating organizations (mostly NGOs) through
IDCOL.
3. Why Solar Energy in Bangladesh:
Solar Energy can be a great source for solving power crisis in Bangladesh. To meet the current energy demand there
is no alternative to renewable energies such as solar, wind, biomass etc besides other existing sources. Using solar
energy, simply, is a process which can provide energy from the sun. In this process, energy of the sun in the shape of
photons reaches to earth and meets the world energy demand of the whole year with just one minute’s solar
radiation. Photovoltaic panel (PV panels-made of silicon) is the tool to harness solar energy. In light of the present
demand for electricity; by 2020 the energy mix will be changed considerably from what it is today.
Solar energy is the most readily available, pollution free and free source of energy in our country and traditionally
solar thermal energy has been utilized in different household and industrial activities in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh is situated in an ideal location for solar energy utilization. Bangladesh is situated between 20.30 and
26.45 degrees north latitude and 88.04 and 92.44 degrees east which is an ideal location for solar energy utilization.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


4
At this position the amount of hours of sunlight each day throughout a year is shown in the following graph in the
Figure-2. The highest and the lowest intensity of direct radiation in W/m² are also shown in the Figure-3.
Fig. 2: The amount of hours of sunlight in Bangladesh
Fig. 3: The highest and the lowest intensity of direct radiation in W/m²
4. PRESENT STATUS OF RENEWABLE ENERGY IN BANGLADESH:
Solar radiation varies from season to season in Bangladesh. So we might not get the same solar energy all the time.
Daily average solar radiation varies between 4-6.5 KWh/m2. Maximum amount of radiation are available in the
month of March-April and minimum in December-January. According to IDCOL, the total capacity of solar energy
based installations in Bangladesh appears to be 20.75 MW. The amount is significant considering the upward trend
of the number of SHSs (Solar Home System) installations in the country.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


5
Fig. 4: Monthly average solar radiation profile in Bangladesh
Fig. 5. Distribution of the SHSs (Solar Home System) in seven divisions in Bangladesh
The Fig.5 shows the approximate division wise SHSs installation. The figure illuminates that the distribution of the
SHSs is highest in the Dhaka district whereas lowest in the newly formed district Rangpur.So from the above figure
and discussion we can say that there is a good prospect for solar thermal and photovoltaic application in Bangladesh.
Solar Home System installation is increasing day by day shown in figure 6, by the year 2014 it increased up to 2.5
million.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


6
Fig. 6: SHS installation
The Government of Bangladesh signed a $78.4 million additional financing to further scale-up support for the
successful solar home systems (SHS) program of Bangladesh. IDCOL will provide assistance as the implementation
agency. The project will help install an additional 480,000 solar home systems that has emerged as a viable
electrification option for areas without grid access to electricity.
4.1 Implemented Projects:
Under the Hill Tracts Electrification Project BPDB has already implemented three solar projects in Juraichori
Upazilla, Barkal Upazilla and Thanchi Upazilla of Rangamati District. Under 1st, 2nd and 3rd Phases, 1200 sets
Solar Home Systems of 120 Wp each, 30 sets Solar PV Street Light Systems of 75 Wp each, 3 sets Solar PV
Submersible Water Pumps of 1800 Wp each, 6 steps Solar PV Vaccine Refrigerators for the Health Care Centers of
360 Wp each and 2 sets 10 kWp capacity Centralized Solar System for market electrification has been installed. So,
a total of 173.81 kWp Solar PV Systems have been installed in Juraichori, Barkal and Thanchi upazilla of
Rangamati District under the Hill Tracts Electrification Project.
In the fiscal year 2008-09, BPDB implemented another two solar electrification projects in Angoorpota and
Dohogram Chitmohol. Under this program, BPDB implemented 2 sets Solar Home System of 50Wp each, 2 sets
Solar Home System of 80Wp each and 8 sets Solar Home System of 100Wp each. A total of 1.06 kWp Solar PV
Systems have been installed in Angoorpota and Dohogram Chitmohol.
BPDB implemented 20.16 kWp Solar PV System and that was inaugurated by Prime Minister at the Office of the
Prime Minister on December 2009.
In line with the Government's Renewable Energy Policy, Power Division hosted 500 MW solar power development
programs which is largest ever solar power development initiative in Bangladesh and so far among any LDC
country. Under the initiative more than 500 MW capacity commercial and social solar power projects will be
commissioned. Out of 500 MW solar 340 MW will be implemented by Private sector and rest 160 MW will be
implemented in public sector. The categories of projects implement by the private sectors are:
1. Grid tie solar park
2. Solar Irrigation
3. Solar Mini Grid
4. Solar system at Industrial and residential Roof Top
Social projects will be implemented by the different government agencies and bodies as their commitment towards
society. Categories of projects implement as social responsibilities are:
1. Solar Electrification at Rural Health Centre
2. Solar Electrification at remote Educational Institutions
3. Solar Electrification at Union E- Centers
4. Solar Electrification at remote Railway Stations
5. Installation of Solar System at Religious Establishment

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


7
6. Solar PV system in Government offices
4.2 Ongoing Projects:
¾ 650 KWp (400 kW load) Solar Mini Grid Power Plant at remote Haor area of Sullahupazila in Sunamgonj
district under Climate Change Trust Fund (CCTF) on turnkey basis.
¾ 8 MWp Grid Connected Solar PV Power Plant at Kaptai Hydro Power Station,atRangamati on turnkey
basis.
¾ 3 MWp Grid Connected Solar PV Power Plant at Sharishabari, Jamalpur on IPP basis.
¾ 30 MWp Solar Park Project adjacent to new Dhorola Bridge, Kurigram on IPP basis.
¾ Solar Street Lighting Projects in seven (7) City Corporations of the country.
N.B Installation of Solar Roof Top Systems in all BPDB offices across the country is a continuous process. More
than 223 kWp solar PV systems have already been installed and installations of about 407 kWp solar PV systems are
under planning/implementing stages.
5. WIND ENERGY:
Bangladesh has a 724 km long coast line and many small islands in the Bay of Bengal, where strong south-westerly
trade wind and sea-breeze blow in the summer months and there is gentle north-easterly trade windand land breeze
in winter months [5]. Bangladesh is in the midst of a severe energy and power supply crisis; one of the worst in
South Asia. However, the government isnow looking to explore the potential of wind energy, particularly along the
country’s 700 kilometer long coastline. Along the coastal area of Bangladesh, the annual average wind speed at 30m
height is more than 5 m/s [16]. Wind speed in northeastern parts in Bangladesh is above 4.5 m/s while for the other
parts of the country wind speed is around 3.5 m/s [16, 23].
5.1 Statistics of wind data in the coastal area of bangladesh
Table 2: Wind speed of different sites at different height
Sl. Location Height AverageSpeed (m/s) Remarks
1 Cox’s Bazar 25m 3.792 Good
2 Charfession 25m 4.433 Better
3 Chittagong 25m 4.367 Better
4 Kuakata 20m 3.135 Good
5 Kuakata 30m 4.146 Better
6 Kutubdia 20m 3.642 Good
7 Sitakunda 20m 3.015 Good
8 Sitakunda 30m 3.554 Good
Wind speed for eight different sites has been collected from the Meteorological department of Bangladesh shown in
table 2.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


8
Table 3: Wind turbine (all are in Functioning) installations in Bangladesh by different organizations [20]
Recently, Bangladesh’s first-ever generation of electricity from wind at a 900-kilowatt plant has ushered in new
hopes for generation of power with minimum cost in the country. The power plant, located near the Muhuri Dam in
southeastern Feni district, have four separate wind turbines of 225 kW each. It is now ready to generate electricity
from wind and supply to the Muhuri Irrigation Project and the national grid, according to The Bangladesh power
development board. Beside several small wind generators have been installed by BRAC (11 small wind turbines in
various coastal sites) and Grameen Shakti (two wind generators of 300 W and 1 KW at its Chakoria Shrimp Farm).
Grameen Shakti has recently installed 4 small wind generators (3xl.5KW + ONE 10 KW) in Barguna district.
Grameen Shakti has already started providing electricity to fish and prawn farms in Cox’s Bazaar, an important
fishing port. The Bangladesh Power Development Board has estimated that wind energy can contribute to 10% of
the energy needs of the country. The Board has also calculated the cost to generate one kilowatt hour of power
(kWh) from wind energy to be about half the cost of generating an equivalent unit of power from solar energy. The
expansion of the potential of wind energy will be crucial in order for Bangladesh to achieve its national vision of
providing electricity to all of its population by 2020. However, in order for targeted poor communities to enjoy the
benefits of access to electricity, there may be a need for setting up of vocational training programs for rural and
urban poor micro-entrepreneurs.
Wind Energy has also made some inroads but its potential is mainly in coastal areas, and offshore islands with
strong wind regimes. These coastal settings afford good opportunities for wind-powered pumping and electricity
generation. Presently there are 2 MW of installed wind turbines at Feni and Kutubdia.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


9
5.2 Implemented Projects:
Bangladesh is situated between 20030'-26045' North Latitude and 88004'-92044' East Longitude. The country has a
724 km long coast line and many small islands in the Bay of Bengal, where strong south-westerly trade wind and
sea-breeze blow in the summer months and there is gentle north-easterly trade wind and land breeze in winter
months.
The potential of wind energy is limited to coastal areas, off-shore islands, rivers sides and other inland open areas
with strong wind regime. In order to generate electricity from Wind Energy, BPDB installed 4x225 KW = 900 KW
capacity grids connected Wind Plant at Muhuri Dam area of Sonagazi in Feni.
Another project of 1000 KW Wind Battery Hybrid Power Plant at Kutubdia Island was completed in 2008 which
consists of 50 Wind Turbines of 20 kW capacities each.
5.3 Ongoing Projects:
¾ Repairing work of the existing 900 kW grid connected Wind Power Project at Muhuri Dam of Sonagazi in
Feni is going on.
¾ Repair and operation & maintenance of the existing Kutubdia 1000 kW Wind Battery Hybrid Power
Project is underway
¾ Steps have been taken to install 15 MW Wind Power Plant across the coastal regions of Bangladesh after 1
year Wind Resources Assessment in Muhuri Dam Area of Feni, Mognamaghat of Cox’sbazar, and Parky
Beach of Anwara in Chittagong, Kepupara of Borguna and Kuakata of Patuakhali. Wind Mapping is going
on at Muhuri Dam area of Feni and at Mognamaghat of Cox’sbazar by RegenPowertech Ltd. of India.
¾ Installation of Wind Monitoring Stations at Inani Beach of Cox'sbazar, Parky Beach of Anwara, Sitakundu
of Chittagong and at Chandpur under USAID TA project is underway
6. MICRO/MINI HYDRO PROJECTS:
Micro-hydro and mini-hydro have limited potential in Bangladesh, with the exception of Chittagong and the
Chittagong Hill tracts. Hydropower assessments have identified some possible sites from 10 kW to 5 MW but no
appreciable capacity has yet been installed. There is one hydro power plant at Kaptai established in the 1960s with
present installed capacity of 230 MW. Today hydropower generates about 17 percent of world electricity supplies.
Like biomass, hydropower is an established renewable energy technology that is widely used in many parts the
world. The basic technology is simple: falling water flows through pipes, called penstocks, then turns turbine blades
to spin a generator and produce electricity (Fig. 7). When excess power is available from the grid, some hydropower
stations pump water up to storage reservoirs and hold it in reserve, then release it to generate power when demand
rises.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


10
Fig 7: Hydro Power System
6.1 Implemented Projects:
Hydro-power is defined as power that is obtained from the force of moving water. It has been used for centuries as
an energy source, with implementation ranging from irrigation, or the operation of various equipment such as water
wheels or watermills. The modern usage of hydro-power is mainly to generate electricity in hydro-electric power
stations, providing around 20% of the world's electricity. Micro Hydro Power Plants can be installed in the north-
eastern hilly regions and in the existing irrigation canal system with sufficient head.
Kaptai Dam is on the Karnaphuli River at Kaptai, 65 kilometres (40 mi) upstream from Chittagong in Rangamati
District, Bangladesh. It is an earth-fill embankment dam with a reservoir (known as Kaptai Lake) water storage
capacity of 6,477,000,000 m3 (5,250,989 acre·ft). The primary purpose of the dam and reservoir was to generate
hydroelectric power. Construction was completed in 1962. The generators in the 230 MW Karnafuli Hydroelectric
Power Stations were commissioned between 1962 and 1988[3] [6]it is the only hydroelectric power station in
Bangladesh [4].
Currently there is a Micro Hydro Power Plant with a 50 kW generator at Barkal area of Rangamati district in 2005
implemented by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB). A larger hydroelectric plant was built in the
Kaptai region using the Karnaphuli River during the 1960s, and was Bangladesh's only hydroelectric power plant for
a long time. It is capable of producing a total of 230 MW of electricity.
6.2 Ongoing Projects:
¾ 50-70 kW Mohamaya Irrigation-cum-Hydro Power Project at Mirersorai, Chittagong.
¾ Rehabilitation of 50 kW Micro-Hydro Power Plant at BarkalUpazila of Rangamati district.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


11
Table 4. Potential small hydro sites identified from the study
District River/Chara/Stream Potential of Electrical energy in KW
Chittagong 1. Foy’s lake 4
2. ChotoKunira 15
3. HinguliChara 12
4. Sealock 81
5. Lungi chara 10
6. Budiachara 10
Sylhet 7. NikhariChara 26
8. Madhabchara 1500ft,from fall 78
9. Rangapani gung 616
Jamalpur 10. Bhugi-kongsa at 2miles U/S of Nalita-bari P.S 69 KW for 10months,48 KW for 2 months
11. Marisi at duka-bed near jhinaigati Thana head
quarter 35 KW for 10months 20KW for 2 months
Dinajpur 12. Dahuk at burabari 24
13. Chawai at U/S. of Chawai L.L.P 32
14. Talam at U/S. of TalamL.L.P 24
15. Pathraj at Fulbari 32
16. Tangon at D/S of Nargun L.L.P 48
17. Punarbhaba at Singraban 11
Rangpur 18. BuriKhoraChikli at Nizbari 32
19. 19. Fulkumar at Rai-ganjBazar. 48
In spite of some negative aspects, hydropower is an attractive alternative to fossil fuels for many countries with good
resources. In addition to their low pollutant emissions, hydropower plants provide dispatch able power: their output
can be raised or lowered quickly to meet fluctuating levels of demand. Other renewable sources, such as wind and
solar energy, produce energy intermittently when the wind blows or the sun shines, so they are not as responsive to
daily market conditions.
7. BIOGAS PROJECTS:
Biogas mainly from animal and municipal wastes may be one of the promising renewable energy resources for
Bangladesh. Presently there are tens of thousands of households and village-level biogas plants in place throughout
the country. It is a potential source to harness basic biogas technology for cooking, and rural and per-urban
electrification to provide electricity during periods of power shortfalls.
An agriculture based country like Bangladesh has huge potentials for utilizing biogas technologies. According to
IFRD- there is potential of about four million biogas plants in our country. Biogas is a fuel gas, a mixture consisting
of 65% methane (CH4) and of 35% CO2.In Bangladesh, people in rural areas are making use of this cost effective
solution to energy needs in their kitchens and fields. Bangladesh produces about 1100 million cubic feet of natural
gas daily and imports about three million tons of crude oil and petroleum product per year. These are referred to as
commercial energy and provide for 35 per cent of the total energy consumed in the country. It is the biomass energy
source that is available to the latter and it consists of fuel wood, leaves, agricultural residues, cow dung and other
organic wastes. These are referred to as non commercial energy and actually provide for the remaining 65 per cent
of the total energy consumed in the country. About 80 per cent of the total population of the country or about 100
million people live in rural area. The non-commercial biomass energy sources (fuel wood, cow dung, agricultural
waste etc.), these people traditionally uses are inefficient and poorly managed. It is said that the country would
require about 13.6 Tcf of gas up to 2020, about 26.7 Tcfup to 2030, and about 62 Tcfup to 2050. With natural gas as
the single significant commercial energy resource available in the country, it appears that the present reserve of 11.6
Tcf will not run beyond 2020. KaziAkhtaruzzaman, Director of the Biogas project of the Science Laboratory at
Dhaka, emphatically pointed out the potential this project has to upgrade the social and economic status and
standard of living of the rural population. Bangladesh remains far behind the neighboring countries in developing

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


12
biogas as apparent from the fact that the number of biogas plant installed is about 30 lacks in India, 70 lacks in
China, 70 thousand in Nepal and only about 8000 in Bangladesh.
7.1 Prospects of biogas in Bangladesh:
The amount of cows and buffaloes in Bangladesh is about 28 million (2 core 80 lakh), from this cow and buffaloes
322×106 kg dung left daily (1 cow left average 11.50 kg dung) from 1 kg dung 1.3 cubic feet (0.037 cubic meters)
gas produce per day. Thus from the total amount of cow and buffalos dung per day 11.91×106 m gas which can be
equated to 2.21×106 ton kerosene or to 4.42×106 tons coal according to the calorific value can be produced.Beside
the main component of urban solid waste in Bangladesh are organic food wastes.
Besides working in partnership with IDCOL, some organizations have constructed domestic biogas plants with their
own funds. These are Grameen Shakti (about 3,664 plants of their own), BRAC (about 3,664 plants of their own),
and some other private organizations which promote biogas plants independently [17]. Moreover, since May 2011,
IDCOL along with its partner organizations; has installed 18,713 biogas plants indifferent parts of Bangladesh
Table 5. Biogas Plant installation up to May, 2011[10]
Partner Organization Biogas Plant Completed
Grameen Shakti (GS) 10,637
Rahman Renewable Energy Co. Ltd. (RB) 896
Save our Urban Life -SOUL 865 865
Kamrul Biogas and Compost Fertilizer
Research Development Co. Ltd. (KB) 850
Hossain Biogas and Compost Fertilizer
Company Ltd. (HB) 609
Rural Services Foundation (RSF) 669
Srizony Bangladesh 537
Research (CCDR) 159
Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK) 26
Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) 29
Barendra Advancement Intergrated
Committee (BAIC) 40
Shariatpur Development Society (SDS) 42
Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF) 72
Jahanara Biogas Construction Co.Ltd (JB) 82
SonaliUnnayan Foundation (SUF) 90
SETU 77
RISDA-Bangladesh 85
MohilaBohumukhiSikkha Kendra (MBSK) 104
Nirapad Engineering 282
BhelabazarShamazUnnayanSangstha (BSUS) 262
Development of Poor Society (DOPS) 145
AnannyoSamajKallyanSangostha (ASKS) 121
SamajUnnayan Kendra (SUK) 208
Basic Organization Network for Development
and Humanitarian Aid for Nation (BONDHAN 345
DESHA 530
Shubashati 396
Access toward Livelihood and Welfare
Organisation (ALWO) 116
Center for Community Development & Others 439
Total 18,713

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


13
7.2 Implemented Projects:
Currently, Bangladesh receives 2 MW power from biogas and biomass technologies. In terms of process,
sustainability is perceived less as an ultimate outcome and more as a pathway to change [18]. Biogas plants produce
excellent safe fertilizers for use on the farm to produces plants and vegetables. Biologically digested biomass
becomes ecologically clear fertilizer that increases crops up to 40-50% [15].Farm waste including slurry and sewage
sludge to a gas that can fuel a gas generator. Previous study results showed that the range of methane potential for
single substrates was between 114 -215 L/Kg VS, except for leaves & straw, which showed much lower potential
than the above range [22]. But volumetric methane potential of leaves &straw was the highest followed by food
waste among any other single substrates. These results indicated the most biodegradable nature of food waste, and
the suitability of using leaves & straw as a bedding material to increase the volumetric methane productivity.
However, process instability with both of these substrates and high ammonia concentrations with chicken litter were
also observed [22]. The outcome of the study indicated that the whole quantity of dung produced in the stable was
not fed into the plant [19]. It showed that out of the theoretical available dung (calculated based upon the number of
cattle and poultry) of 5370.9 kilograms (81.37 kg/household on an average), 4327.7 kilograms (81%) was fed into
the biogas digesters. However, the prescribed quantity of dung based upon the hydraulic retention time of 40-45
days for the Bangladesh context is 6362.5 kg, which is 19% more than the available feeding and 47% more than the
actual feeding presently practiced [19]. The result shows that each cubic meter (m³) of biogas convert biogas to
electricity, in a biogas powered electric generator, which produces 2 KW/h of useable electricity, the rest turns into
heat which can also be used for heating applications. Biogas plants produce heat after cooling generator without any
additional gas combustion. 2 KW/h is enough energy to power 180nos of 10 W energy bulbs for 12 hours in a
poultry farm.Biogas plants produce excellent safe fertilizers for use on the farm to produces plants and vegetables.
Biologically digested biomass becomes ecologically clear fertilizer that increases crops up to 40-50% [15]. It will
save lots of money for using fertilizer at crops fields in Bangladesh. Biogas plants can help in the fight against
global warming by allowing to burn methane from organic waste of the poultry farm, instead of letting it escape into
the atmosphere where it adds to the greenhouse effect.
Projects by Governmental Organizations
• Biogas Pilot Plant Project by IFRD (20,000 plants within 2004)
• Biogas Project by LGED (1,200 plants)
7.3 Biomass Projects:
Bangladesh has strong potential for biomass gasification based electricity. More common biomass resources
available in the country are rice husk, crop residue, wood, jute stick, animal waste, municipal waste, sugarcane
bagasse etc. This technology can be disseminated on a larger scale for electricity generation.Production of rice husk
energy is steady over decade and day by day it is increasing in trend. In 1991, the production of rice husk energy
was 76.35 PJ and it increased to 106.1 PJ in 2004 (Figure 8). The growth of rice the husk production is calculated as
2.57% which is higher than the overall growth of traditional fuel (1.73%) [14].

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


14
Fig. 8: Estimated traditional energy supplied in the financial year 2003-2004 in Bangladesh (Source: BBS 2004 and
own calculation andplotting) [14]
Bangladesh is an agricultural country so biomass is available in huge amount. Cattle dung, agricultural residue,
poultry dropping, water hyacinth, rice husk etc. used for biomass power generation are available in Bangladesh [2].
The figure 9 below indicates that the amount of rice production in Bangladesh has been increased in recent years and
this amount of production has made us more optimistic in using the rice husk as a biomass fuel which his
nevertheless a perfect source of renewable energy in the context of Bangladesh [21].
Fig. 9: Rice production (Thousand Metric Ton) in Bangladesh in past eleven years
7.4 Implemented Projects:
Bangladesh's state-owned Infrastructure Development Company Ltd. (IDCOL) has sponsored a micro energy
company called DreamsPower which, in collaboration with the World Bank and the Global Environmental Facility,
inaugurated the countries first advanced, decentralized biomass power plant today. The facility, located in an un-
electrified town named Kapashia (Gazipur district), is part of a rural electrification project that aims to reach about
700,000 citizens through renewable. The green power plant, the first ever its kind in Bangladesh, is a 250 kW

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


15
biomass gasification facility that generates renewable electricity from abundant agricultural residues such as rice
husks. IDCOL provided concessionary loans and grants, sourced from IDA and the Global Environmental Facility
(GEF), for a total project costly of 25 million taka (€250,000) of which the World Bank provided 60%.Being located
in anun-electrified area, the plant is now supplying environmentally friendly grid quality power to about 500
households and commercial entities for the first time. A total of 220 consumers have been connected to the local
grid, while another 2,300 applicants await connections.
7.5 Challenges and Opportunities:
Our government has set a target of reaching all with electricity by 2020. Momentum has been created for solar
power which our rural people have accepted whole heartedly. Solar & other renewable are in a position to play a
very important role to complement government efforts to take electricity to all by 2020. We are yet to reach the
penetration rate of mobile phones or televisions which has reached more than half portion of the rural market. We
are yet to reach cost effectiveness to reach all rural income groups especially the lower income group in large
numbers.
Challenges:
¾ There are more than 30 organizations engaged in the rural renewable energy sector. Expect for a few,
majority have a very small client base. Cutting edge business culture is yet to develop in this field because
of the prevalence of NGO culture. There has been very little incentive for innovation or new product
development because most of the organizations depend on guaranteed soft loans from IDCOL.
¾ Present practice of vast rural network ofbranches and engineers translates in hugetransaction cost and slow
penetration rate. Lack of good communication especially during the rainy season constraints movements
and increases transport cost.
¾ Training and retaining efficient human resource at the field level is also difficult.Incentive is low compared
to the hard work. It is difficult for organizations to increaseincentives in order to keep their costs low.
¾ There are many lacks in our country. Such as:
• There is lack of skilled engineers who canmake cost effective and efficient SHS designsespecially for
productive applications.
• Lack of technological development
• Lack of resources – material & manpower
• Lack of local industries to produce & develop
• Lack of enough R&D – in academia / industry
• Lack of governmental policies
• Lack of regional cooperation
• Lack of financial supports for new projects
• Lack of management on environmental hazards
¾ Another major challenge is high battery prices and inability to source quality materials or accessories cost
effectively.
¾ Huge Tax and VAT are charged on import of all raw materials except solar panels. This increases the cost
of local manufacturing ofsolar accessories which in turn increases the cost of Solar Home Systems.
¾ The solar energy sector is facing problems with sub standard solar panels and battery. There are complains
that the battery quality is not up to mark to achieve satisfying performance. Insufficient warranty period of
battery & inverter is another problem.
Environmental challenges:
In recent years, however, critics have drawn attention to hydropower's negative environmental impacts. A report
issued in 2000 by an independent international commission catalogued ways in which large dams can harm
ecosystems, such as:
¾ Killing plants and displacing animals, including endangered species, when reservoirs are flooded;

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


16
¾ Altering river flow rates, the quantity and character of sediments moving through the channel, and
materials that make up stream beds and river banks;
¾ Modifying water parameters such as temperature and levels of nutrients and dissolved oxygen;
¾ Degrading downstream channels, floodplains, and deltas by reducing the transport of nutrients and
sediments below dams; and
¾ Blocking migration of fish and other aquatic species up and downstream.
The report also noted that while hydropower does not generate greenhouse gas emissions as water spins electric
turbines, reservoirs emit CO2 and/or methane from rotting submerged vegetation and carbon inflows from the
catchment area.
Only if all the families in Bangladesh could be attached with the biogas plant, only from the human excreta 1.2×109
m3 gases per year could be produced. Also biogas residue can fill up our fertilizer demand. The daily fertilizer
contribution would be equivalent to 2.785 tons urea, 7.030 tons super phosphate and 1280 tons of Muriate of potash.
At present different implementing authorities in Bangladesh is mainly active in promoting the technology without
proper attention to research and development to renovate and optimize the design by suiting them to the local
condition. It is mentioned in an internal report of Local Government Engineering Department that about 75 per cent
of the constructed biogas plant did not operate properly, mainly due to design, construction and maintenance
problem.
Opportunities and Recommendation:
¾ Exponential demand has been created among rural people for solar power and renewables.This is mainly
due to increased price of kerosene, diesel, and lack of grid connected power, decreased price of solar
energy, and especially due to growing aspiration and economic diversification of the rural people.
¾ Technical progress has reduced cost, increased efficiency and diversified the application of solar energy.
¾ We can use biogas technology not only generating cooking gas, but also for generatingpure methane gas
which can used for runningvehicles, power pumps and other electronic equipment. This will facilitate rural
development. We can use biogas technology in urban areas to convert wastes into electricity, gas and
organic fertilizers.
¾ Again Biogas technology takes part in the global struggle against the greenhouse effect by reducing the
release of CO2 from burning fossil fuels in two ways. First, biogas is a direct substitute for gas or coal for
cooking, heating, electricity generation and lighting. Second, the reduction in the consumption of artificial
fertilizer avoids carbon dioxide emissions that would otherwise come from the fertilizer producing
industries.
¾ To reduce technological problems, need cooperative supports from technologically-developed nations.
¾ Need to learn from the experiences of countries like Japan to enhance the practical usage, implementation,
investment, concern on pollution management, etc.
¾ Need financial incentives.
¾ Need new business models on micro-credits or others – based on regions.
¾ Need industry support from international and local markets to develop various low-cost systems.
¾ Need academic developments, more academic courses and reading materials – both in native language and
in English to promote.
¾ Need wider research opportunities so that smarter technologies and ideas on applications can be explored
by students and academics.
¾ Awareness and encouragements are necessary such as deploy environmental groups, media, etc.
¾ Find more potential customers.
¾ Need to build related industries and plan to produce solar cells, solar panels, and other key materials
locally.
¾ Government should support these projects so that it can bring revenue by exporting the products as well as
enhance the chance to have local-made low-cost products for the citizens.
¾ Need to arrange workshops, training programs or related issues, national and international conferences to
share ideas and to establish networks – so that these can be monumental for the development on solar
energy.
¾ Need to teach and enforce industries to take special measures on health hazards on workers who are related
to this industry.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


17
¾ Need to bring users, entrepreneurs, investors, NGOs, workers, academia, industry, etc. together to discuss
on challenges and constraints they are facing in enhancing the usage of solar energy systems.
¾ To overcome – need more understanding on various aspects and to know limitations and ways to mitigate.
If we can provide adequate attentions and efforts through various means, we can definitely improve. And we can
hope that more people will get electricity and clean energy through solar energy systems.
8. CONCLUSION:
The summary of this paper exhibits that, there isa considerable opportunity of Bangladesh to meet itsfuture power
demand and thus economic growththrough renewable resources. Renewable energy sources discussed above can
help Bangladesh produce more power. Time has come to look forward and work with these renewable energy fields
to produce electricity rather than depending wholly on conventional method. With the help of these resources
Bangladesh can generate electricity to meet the required internal demand in the future.
There is serious lack of proper campaign and branding to popularize the renewable energy in urban areas of
Bangladesh. Renewable energy can be a complimentary environment friendly source of power and can play a
significant role in reducing current urban power crisis. Government and Private sector should work hand in hand to
harness the immense potential of solar energy of Bangladesh.
REFERENCE:
[1] Badrul, I. “Biogas energy in Bangladesh”. “Bangladesh Gazette: Renewable Energy Policy of Bangladesh
2008”, published in November 06, 2008. Website: http://lib.pmo.gov.bd/.pdf.
[2] Bangladesh_Energy_Situation, Website: https://energypedia.info/wiki/.
[3] "Dam - Kaptai Dam". Retrieved 2007-02-01.
[4] A. Hossain, “Wind Energy in Bangladesh,” Sustainable Development Networking Programme.
[5] “Infrastructure Development Company Ltd.”, Website: http://www.idcol.org/.
[6] http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900620220121756?journalCode=cijw20#preview.
[7] Huque, S. and Mazumder, R. K. (2006). “A concentrator PV power system in water pumping”. National
Seminar on Renewable Energy: Biomass/Bio Energy, Dhaka, 24th March, 2006.
[8] IDCOL: Renewable Energy Projects, “EXPANDING RENEWABLE ENERGY IN BANGLADESH”.
[9] IDCOL Renewable Energy Projects, Bangladesh,(2012,March).URL:http://www.idcol .org/energy
Project.php.
[10] "Kaptai Dam Structure". Retrieved 2007.
[11] "Key Statistics". Bangladesh Power Development Board. Retrieved 2014-11-03 (introduction).
[12] Loster, M. (2010). “Total Primary Energy Supply- From Sunlight”. Retrieved from World Wide Web:
http://www.ez2c.de/ml/solar_land_area/ (Accessed on August 26, 2010).
[13] M. Ahiduzzaman. “Rice Husk Energy Technologies in Bangladesh,” Agricultural Engineering International:
the CIGRE journal.
[14] Md. Abdul Gufran, Md. Ashrafuzzaman, Md. Rahman 2009, “IDCOL Model Biogas Plant”.
[15] M.J. Khan, M.T. Iqbal, S. Mahboob, “A wind map of Bangladesh,” Renewable Energy (2004), Volume: 29,
Issue: 5, Publisher: Elsevier, Pages: 643-660, ISSN: 09601481, DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2003.10.002.
[16] M. ZunaidBaten, E.M.Amin, A. Sharin, R. Islam, S. A.Chowdhury, “Renewable Energy Scenario of
Bangladesh: Physical Perspective,” International Conference on the Developments in Renewable Energy
Technology (ICDRT) 2009, Dhaka, Bangladesh
[17] Norman J Rosenberg, Steven J Smith, 2009, ‘A sustainable biomass industry for the North American Great
Plains’, PACE.
[18] Prakash C 2005, ‘Ghimire, Final Report on Technical Study of Biogas PlantsInstalled in Bangladesh’.
[19] Renewable Energy Prospects & Trends in Bangladesh Presented by-Mazharul Islam. Bangladesh Power
Development Board.

Proceedings of the 7th IMEC &16th Annual Paper Meet
02-03 January, 2015
Dhaka, Bangladesh


18
[20] Rice Production (Thousand Metric Tons) in Bangladesh. Available at:
http://bangladesheconomy.wordpress.com/2011/12/11/3-50-cr-tonne-rice-production-target-fixed/.pdf.
[21] S.M. Ashekuzzaman 2010, ‘Evaluation of biogas potential for rurally available biomass: a case study for
the project areas in Bangladesh’, Aalborg University June.
[22] T.V. Ramachandra, B.V. Shruti, “Wind energy potential mappings in Karnataka , India , using GIS,”
Energy Conversion and Management 46 (2005) 1561-1578, doi :10.1016/j.enconman.2004.07.009.
[23] World Journal of Social Sciences Vol. 2. No. 7. November 2012 Issue. Pp. 174 –181, Biogas Technology
for a Sustainable Energy: The Case of Poultry Farm in Bangladesh Rumana Rashid, Mohd. Hamdan Bin
Ahmed, Md. Sayem Khan.
[24] Zaman M., Islam M. A., and Sarkar M. A. R. (2006). “Two Phase Heat Transfer in Solar Water Heater”.
National Seminar on Renewable Energy: Biomass/Bio Energy, Dhaka, 24th March, 2006.
[25] M A R Sarkar< Am Aziz Ul Huq Renewable Energy for Sustainable Development A paper presented 1t 3rd
Int Conference organized by IEB