Despite the vigorous progress that Bangladesh had made in terms of energy security in the past decade, the global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s needless invasion of Ukraine quickly exposed our over-reliance on fuel imports.
Yes, flagship projects such as Rooppur and Rampal signify the government’s commitment towards energy security, but one of the key ways that the world at large is moving ahead in this arena is through the rapid adoption of renewable energy.
To that end, solar panels have seen some semblance of popularity in Bangladesh and, according to a new report from the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a renewed focus and adding 2,000MW can help the Bangladesh Power Development Board save up to $1 billion annually. The report specifically highlights the economic benefits posed by rooftop solar panel systems especially in the face of the global energy crisis.
Solar panels have long been considered the most accessible form of renewable energy technology. However, according to a Dhaka Tribune report from July, lack of awareness when it comes to maintenance and concepts such as net metering results in an overwhelming majority of existing solar panels being left to collect rain and dust.
Lowering the high investment barriers, making potential users aware of the technical maintenance, ensuring panels are of the best possible quality, and binning any and all regulatory hurdles would more than prop up solar technology as a genuinely viable source of renewable energy in Bangladesh.
When it comes to renewable energy, no country can afford to lag behind, especially in the face of the global climate crisis which all but begets radical shifts in the way we power our future. As a climate-vulnerable nation, that applies to Bangladesh tenfold.
