Media reports that the Energy Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr. Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury advised Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to reduce the proposed power tariff to be generated from renewable energy sources. The Adviser was speaking at a seminar titled 'Feed in Tariff regulations: Promotion and development of renewable energy in Bangladesh' jointly organised by the Institute of Energy of Dhaka University, the Asia Foundation and Australian Aid on May 05, 2015. The Energy Adviser cited the example of the solar energy-based power plant in the process of implementation in Dubai and recommended that the power from renewable energy should have tariff rates of approximately Tk 4.0 per unit.
The Gulf News from Dubai reported on March 12, 2013 that the inauguration of 100 MW capacity Shams-1 solar power plant located 120 km southeast of Abu Dhabi at a cost of US$ 600 million would enable a competitive edge in developing and investing in similar renewable energy projects in the region. The Shams-1 will contribute to attaining Abu Dhabi's target of 7 per cent renewable energy based power generation by 2010.The plant also earns carbon credits under the clean development mechanism (CDM) of the United Nation.
The Shams-1 Solar Power Plant has been built in the city of Madinat Zayed of Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. It is the first solar farm in the Middle East and the largest concentrated solar power (CSP) plant in the world. The electricity generated by the solar firm is sold to Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company under long term sales contract. The Shams-1 is spread over an area 741 acres or 2.5 km2 of desert and features 768 parabolic trough collectors over 6,300,000 ft2 of land. The parabolic through collectors gather sunlight and convert it into thermal energy. The heat collectors help generate high pressure steam with the help of a coolant present inside the tubes of the solar panels. The steam rotates the turbines to generate electricity. Equipments of the Shams-1 solar power plant project were built by more than 70 local companies. The assembly of the plants equipment at the solar field and electrical works were also done by the local companies. Quoting an official of the Shams-1 project the newspaper reports that the cost of electricity produced from solar power plant is comparable to electricity generated from diesel.
In Bangladesh, solar energy-based power plant on a larger scale could not be established so far not only because of fund constraints. Solar Photo Voltaic and CSP Power plant development requires vast free land areas (approximately 4 acres for one megawatt power generation). Also, the assurance for a long-term attractive and fixed feed in tariff mechanism is important for the investors.
The Australian Aid, the Asia Foundation and Institute of Energy in Dhaka University have been working with the Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) to prepare the draft Feed in Tariff regulations. Published report suggests that BERC proposes Tk 11.32 per unit 'levelised tariff' for wind power, Tk 12.72 for solar photovoltaic (PV) power (utility scale) and Tk 14.13 for small scale solar PV power for a life cycle of 25 years. Energy adviser cited example of the proposed power tariff of Tk 4 per unit for the Dubai 100 MW solar power project under implementation. The BERC Chairman A R Khan considers that the analogical power price for Bangladesh conditions would not be viable at this stage.
Bangladesh government has set a target to generate about 2,000 MW (or 10 per cent power) within 2021 from renewable sources. Feed in Tariff regulations are seen as instruments for promotion and to accelerate of renewable energy development in the country with active participation of private sector investors. At present, Bangladesh has an installed capacity of approximately 400 MW power from renewable sources including the existing 230 MW capacity hydropower project at Kaptai on the river Karnafuli. In addition, 173 MW power is generated from solar (Solar Home Systems), wind, biomass and biogas plants. The government is hopeful to add 15-35 MW power from renewable sources by this year. However, the target set earlier for generating 5 per cent power from renewable sources (600 MW) within 2015 by the government will not be fulfilled. But the concerned officials of the government hope to attain the renewable energy target within 2021. In this connection government has set year-wise and sector-wise targets for renewable energy development.
Bangladesh has attained commendable success in promoting solar home systems. The government wishes to encourage installing within 2017 six million solar home systems. Apart from individual solar home systems, initiatives have been taken to install mini and micro solar grids. Infrastructure Development Company Ltd (IDCOL) has set up four such grids and few more are in the process of implementation for covering electricity supply networks in the non- grid areas. In addition, solar irrigation pumps have been set up mainly through private initiatives. IDCOL plans to install 50,000 solar pumps within next one year. The Rural Electrification Board (REB) has set up 40 such pumps and has been working for installing 300 new solar pumps. The government has a plan to convert 3-4 hundred thousand diesel-run irrigation pumps into solar pumps for saving the cost of diesel as well as for protecting the environment.
The wind mapping works have been underway at 13 different sites. Biomass utilisation potentials are being assessed as well. The Sustainable Energy Development Authority of Bangladesh targets 1,600 MW power from solar, 1,300 MW from wind, 47 MW from biomass and 7 MW from biogas and 4 MW from mini-hydro within 2021 and considers the target attainable.
The writer is a mining engineer
and writes on energy and
environment issues.
mushfiq41@yahoo.com
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