Bangladesh, home to over 170 million people, faces a significant challenge in providing a 24-hour electricity supply to all its citizens.
Drawing from my experience in Australia's electricity industry, I have observed transformative changes, such as the 2017 shutdown of the Hazelwood Power Station, which supplied 25 per cent of Victoria's electricity. Despite this, the state did not experience widespread blackouts or grid failures, except for isolated weather-related disruptions. Like Bangladesh, Australia does not have nuclear power plants, yet it has successfully focused on other energy solutions.
Although Bangladesh is not as resource-rich as Australia, it does share some similarities, particularly in its natural gas reserves. However, rather than continuing to invest in non-renewable fossil fuels, Australia has committed to renewable energy. The country aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50-60 per cent by 2035 and reach net zero by 2050, which includes the phasing out of coal and gas plants. While Bangladesh is far from achieving these goals, the potential for a sustainable energy future still exists.
One immediate solution is the introduction of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in densely populated cities like Dhaka and Chittagong, where high-rise buildings are common. Electricity companies could collaborate with building owners to install solar panels on rooftops. These panels would generate energy for the buildings, reducing reliance on the national grid and lowering electricity bills. Any excess electricity could be fed back into the grid and stored in batteries for peak demand periods, such as the hot summer months.
Bangladesh's location near the equator provides substantial solar potential, with 4 to 6 peak solar hours per day year-round. If solar panels and VPP systems were installed on every government building-approximately 15,000 buildings with an average rooftop area of 1,000 square metres-the country could generate around 3,696 GWh annually. This is roughly 5 per cent of the country's total electricity demand of 75,000 GWh per year.
The annual electricity consumption of government buildings alone is estimated at 2,250 GWh, which represents about 3 per cent of total national demand. By implementing solar energy in government buildings, their electricity needs could be fully met, while surplus power could be contributed to the grid. This would offer a dual benefit: reducing strain on the national grid and lowering operational costs for the public sector.
Raad Sheikh
Operations Team Leader
Energy Intelligence Pty Ltd
[email protected]
