No matter how we look at it, renewable energy is the future.
This is especially true for a developing nation like Bangladesh, which will have to invest a good amount in meeting our projected energy consumption demands. And when one factors in the existential threat of global warming, it becomes clear that, for the sake of our survival, we need to go all-in on renewables.
As such, the recent visit of a European envoy that has helped financed three renewable energy projects in Savar on June 14 is nothing if not timely.
Currently, Bangladesh’s share of green energy sources that are connected to the national grid still persists below 1%. Hopefully, with forward thinking steps like this, we can revamp our renewable energy sector and prepare for the future.
One of the biggest benefits of renewable energy is that it doesn’t harm or pollute the environment, one of Bangladesh’s biggest issues. Burning fossil fuels emits fumes that are deadly both for the environment and the humans that live in it.
Relying on fossil fuels is also not sustainable. The world is quickly running out of fossil fuel, and with the current market status, the price of fossil fuel will continue to climb.
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This is why we need to focus on renewable energy. But the authorities, unfortunately, have already back-pedaled a fair bit on this issue. The recent import taxes on materials such as solar panels in the current budget is going to harm the adoption of renewables. Our continued reliance and emphasis on using coal for power generation is not only tone deaf given our current predicament, it is also blind to our future needs and dangers.
Slowly but gradually, there should be more emphasis on renewable energy with each passing year, both in the budget and the planning of the government. To reiterate, for the sake of our survival, there is no going back on renewable energy. The authorities need to take this lesson to heart.
