Draft guidelines for onshore wind-power-project development have been unveiled under a government priority as this clean energy remains under explored despite offering a "complementary and increasingly cost-competitive pathway".
Until now, the country generates only 62 megawatts of electricity from wind resources out of total 1,774mw power generated from renewable sources, according to Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).
In the Renewable Energy Policy 2025 the government has set a target of generating 20 per cent of total energy by 2030 and 30 per cent by 2040 from renewable sources.
"The guideline establishes a clear, transparent, and bankable framework for the development of land-based (onshore) wind-power projects," SREDA says.
It says Bangladesh possesses modest but commercially viable onshore wind resources, concentrated primarily along its 710-kilometre coastline, in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, and across selected open plain areas in the north-west.
Detailed wind mapping carried out by SREDA and international partners has identified multiple sites with average annual wind speeds of 5.0-7.5 metres per second at hub height-sufficient for utility-scale electrical power generation with modern turbine technology.
The guide aims at facilitating orderly, efficient, and sustainable development of onshore wind power in Bangladesh. It stresses establishing technically robust minimum requirements aligned with international standards, including IEC 61400-1, IEC 61400-12, and IFC performance standards, ensuring that projects are designed and built to operate safely and efficiently for their full design life, typically 25 years or more.
It also aims to create a financially bankable framework by providing developers, lenders, and investors with a clear, predictable, and transparent regulatory pathway, thereby reducing perceived project risk and facilitating access to commercial and development finance.
Developers will have to ensure that all land required for the project, including turbine locations, access roads, substations, meteorological mast positions, lay-down areas, and cable routes, can be lawfully used for the purpose of wind-power development, and that all applicable land-use regulations, zoning requirements, and environmental restrictions are complied with.
Where allotment of land or site clearance is provided by the government for the purpose of wind-power development, a maximum period of three years from the date of allotment or permission have to be allowed for project-development activities and commencement of commissioning.
"Extensions may be granted through a formal appeal to the government, subject to satisfactory demonstration of progress and extenuating circumstances," the manual reads.
Also, the developers should confirm that grid connectivity is technically and commercially feasible at the proposed project site.
"All wind-power projects shall comply with the Bangladesh Environment Conservation Act 1995, and the Environment Conservation Rules 1997, as administered by the Department of Environment (DoE)."
The developers have to obtain all required environmental clearances before commencing construction.
Where a project site is located within, adjacent to, or in the ecological-connectivity zone like reserved forests, protected areas, or other officially designated conservation areas, recognised habitats or flight corridors of threatened, endangered, or migratory bird or bat species, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, archaeologically significant sites, and nationally recognised heritage establishments, coastal buffer zones, mangrove forests, and ecologically sensitive tidal flats, the developer has to obtain additional mandatory clearances and mitigation plans.
The government rules encourage the developers to install energy-storage system in their plants as it can significantly enhance the grid value of wind power and support overall grid stability.
"Developers are encouraged, and in some circumstances may be required by SREDA or the grid operator, to integrate co-located energy-storage systems with their wind projects," the guide says.
President of Bangladesh Sustainable and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA) Mostafa Al Mahmud says wind power has "immense potential in Bangladesh and generation from the wind resources is expected to increase.
"As the government now started arranging land for private sector to generate clean energy, wind power production will also increase gradually," he told The Financial Express.
syful-islam@outlook.com