This year's COP30 failed to reach a consensus on finalising roadmaps and timeframe to phase out fossil fuel. However, UN member countries have been submitting their own Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) targets for reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission. Bangladesh has submitted its NDC reports and voluntarily offered to reduce GHG emission and increase renewable energy use. As per the NDC targets Bangladesh pledged to increase its share for electricity generation from renewable sources and reduce its reliance on fossil fuel use. The Renewable Energy Policy, 2025, Bangladesh targets to meet 20 per cent electricity demand within 2030 and 30 per cent within 2040 from renewable energy sources. As per International Renewable Energy Agency report (2024), India meets 24 per cent electric energy demands from renewable energy sources, Pakistan 17.16 per cent, Sri Lanka 39.7 per cent respectively. Published reports suggest that India has installed (as on March 2025) a total renewable energy generation capacity to 220.10 GW. Despite the rise of renewable energy share in India, rise of clean source-based energy utilisation remains slow due to its lower capacity utilisation, restrictions in the electricity grid and the constraints for battery storage facilities. India's baseload electricity demand is largely met by coal fired power (up to 75 per cent of the country's energy mix). China, on the other hand, is expected to reach 1,200 gigawatts (GW) target by 2025 and has pledged to attain 1,000 GW of solar power by 2026. Fossil fuel-based electricity generation now contributes less than 50 per cent of China's total installed power generation capacity. Published reports further suggest that 'in the next and every subsequent five-year plan, China made strategic investments in all aspects of renewable technologies, from solar and wind capacity, green hydrogen, and geothermal projects to reach and investment in battery storage and its supply chains'.
Bangladesh is far behind the South Asian neighbours in terms of commercial use of renewable energy. However, before the COP30 a disappointing picture in terms of NDC report submissions from the UN member countries was reported. The analysis of submitted 64 NDC reports (from the respective member countries from within 295 UN member countries) suggests that if the targets in the reports are attained, global emission might decline only 17 per cent by 2035 (compared to 2019 level). But the major GHG emitting countries have not submitted updated NDC reports. The United States have withdrawn from COP process and did not send its official representatives to COP30 UN Climate Conference in Brazil. The previous COP conferences (global climate change summits) had set net-zero targets and roadmaps for maintaining atmospheric temperature levels at 1.5 degree celsius. From that said roadmap, it is clear that a 60 per cent reduction of GHG emission within 2025 will be necessary to achieve net-zero targets. However, NDC targets will remain valid at the centre of global climate crisis. Surely, there is no alternative to securing sufficient investments for keeping the global atmospheric temperature level within 1.5°c alive.
Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) of Bangladesh suggests only 5.38 per cent (or 1689.71 MW) renewable energy share for electricity generation mix has been installed in Bangladesh. Among the renewable energy sources, solar energy's share remains dominant (on-grid 1019.45 MW and off-grid 377.17 MW). Installed capacity of on-grid hydro electric generation capacity is 230 MW and wind Energy (on-grid) 62MW only. On the other hand, coal accounts for 22.97 per cent (7,179 MW); natural gas (including imported LNG) 39.45 per cent (12,384 MW); furnace oil 18.75 per cent (5,885 MW); high sulfur diesel 0.92 per cent (290 MW); imported electricity (1,160 MW) and captive power generation 8.92 per cent (2800 MW).
Bangladesh has limited scope to diversify electricity generation from various clean and renewable sources. Solar energy has been the major contributor in renewable energy-based electricity generation. On the other hand, utility scale electricity generation in a sustainable way demands significant land (one megawatt electricity generation demands approximately three acres of land with the present technology). Some experts argue that the land constraints may be offset by allocating one per cent of agriculture land for solar power generation in Bangladesh. They further argue that one per cent of the country's land allocated for solar power generation may help generate approximately 50,000 MW electric power. The shortfall of agriculture (due to allocation of land for solar power generation facilities development) may be substituted by imports. Bangladesh fails to reduce a considerable amount of loss and damage of crops due to lack of poor conservation and adequate storage facilities. Also, Bangladesh has been losing annually approximately one per cent of agricultural land because of unplanned urbanisation and various development activities. Careful monitoring and advance management of land and agricultural crop conservation may improve better use of land in the country. At the same time, expansion of solar and renewable energy generation may contribute to improved environment and climate change induced crisis in the country.
Government's initiative to generate additional 2,000-3,000 MW solar power using rooftop spaces of the government buildings, educational institutes and hospitals (the interim government has taken initiatives to generate 1,454 MW electricity using roof top spaces within February 2026) have been progressing slow due to lack of investors' confidence. A recent survey report carried out by the non-government think-tank CPD informed that the relevant agencies of the government invited tender for installation of 55 solar power plants in the country. But the response was very poor (response received only for 22 sites for installation of solar power plants) as the potential investors were hesitant due to unresolved risks, rigid price offer, weaker incentives. President of the Independent Power Producer's Association, David Hasnat was critical about the rate of power purchases offer for the tendered sites putting forward his own arguments. He suggested to consult with the investors prior to declaring government policies for renewable energy development in the country.
Mushfiqur Rahman is a mining engineer. He writes on energy and environment issues. mushfiq41@yahoo.com