Renewable energy in Bangladesh is an energy sector with room to grow. As of 2019, Bangladesh is among the top 6 global economies by annual GDP growth, according to the World Bank. To satisfy its energy consumption needs, the country currently relies mainly on natural gas and biofuels. In 1980, only 0.016% of the locals had electricity. Fast forward 40 years, today that figure stands at 85%. Yet, alongside Mongolia, it is the only other country in the region with electrification rates below 90%. Since the renewable energy policy guidelines were published in 2008 by the local Ministry of Power, Energy, and Mineral Resources, Bangladesh has made small but steady progress. Over 65% of the power generation currently is attributed to natural gas. However, wind, hydropower, and solar PV are also growing. Total Energy Supply by Source, Bangladesh, 1990 – 2018, IEA. The installed renewable power capacity in Bangladesh at the end of 2018 was 579 MW, on-grid and off-grid installations included. The share is as follows – solar PV (59.5%), small-scale hydropower (39.7%), biomass and biogas (0.8%).
Bangladesh introduced a National Solar Energy Action Plan with three possible scenarios for total solar energy capacity by 2041. These include business-as-usual (8 GW), medium (25 GW), and ambitious (40 GW). The last one seems hard to achieve, considering that the renewables’ share within the national power mix. In 2019, they were 1.5%, currently sitting at 3%. Yet, the strategy’s authors are hesitant that the country should pursue the ambitious plan. Potential for a swift transition and a diversified renewable energy mix is there. Utilizing only 1% of the Kaptai dam’s water surface for floating solar will ensure nearly 500 MW of solar capacity. Additional unexplored potential is also laying in the river banks and islands like the Meghna estuary. government announced plans to install rooftop systems on all educational facilities to feed additional solar power to the grid. The government of Bangladesh also plans to replace its fossil fuel fleet with solar power vessels. Besides, this year the country will finally accept the Electric Vehicle Registration and Operation Guidelines, proposed in 2018 and start building solar charging stations for EVs with an average capacity of 20 kilowatts. For now, although distant, the future looks bright. REN21’s report concludes that Bangladesh, alongside China, India, and Japan, leads renewable energy developments in the region. According to the World Bank, Bangladesh has one of the most successful off-grid renewable energy programs globally. The sustainable energy transition is fueled by institutional capacity and government policies, including the Solar Home System Program by IDCOL. IDCOL was established in 1997 by the local government and the World Bank. Its goal is to provide funding and technical know-how to private companies and retail consumers within the renewable energy niche. As a result, today, Bangladesh hosts the largest domestic solar power program worldwide, covering over 11% of the local population.