RENEWABLE ENERGY RESOURCES IN BANGLADESH : CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

This article examines the challenges and opportunities for the development of renewable energy resources in Bangladesh. It provides an overview of the country's energy sector, highlighting its heavy dependence on fossil fuels, particularly natural gas, and the growing concerns about energy security. The study then explores the potential of various renewable energy sources in the Bangladeshi context, including solar, wind, biomass, and micro-hydro. The research analyzes the significant opportunities that these resources offer for providing electricity to off-grid rural areas and for contributing to a more sustainable and climate-friendly energy mix. The paper also provides a detailed assessment of the major challenges to the large-scale adoption of renewable energy, such as the high initial costs, the need for appropriate technologies, the lack of a supportive policy framework, and the weakness of institutional capacity. The analysis concludes by calling for a long-term strategic vision and a proactive government policy to unlock the immense potential of renewable energy in Bangladesh.

Energy is a critical input for economic development, and for Bangladesh, the quest for energy security is a paramount national challenge. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of the role that renewable energy resources can play in meeting this challenge. The study begins with an assessment of the country's significant potential for various forms of renewable energy. A key focus is on solar energy, for which Bangladesh, as a tropical country, has a vast and largely untapped resource. The paper discusses the potential of Solar Home Systems (SHSs) to bring electricity to the millions of people living in remote rural areas that are not connected to the national grid. It also explores the potential for wind power in the coastal regions and the use of biomass for energy generation. The core of the article is an examination of the significant barriers that have hindered the development of these resources. These include the high upfront capital cost of renewable energy technologies compared to conventional power plants, the lack of a robust policy and regulatory framework to encourage investment, and the limited local technical and manufacturing capacity. The findings lead to a set of clear policy recommendations. The paper advocates for the creation of a dedicated renewable energy agency, the introduction of financial incentives like feed-in tariffs, and a major investment in research, development, and capacity building. The paper concludes that with a strong and sustained policy push, renewable energy can move from being a niche player to a central pillar of Bangladesh's energy future.