Speakers at a discussion on Saturday said that Bangladesh should move to the renewable sources of energy as soon as possible for sustainable supply of energy at a reasonable price.
There are some potential sources of renewable energy in the country despite acute land scarcity, said energy experts, researchers and activists while addressing the 2nd Dhaka Renewable Energy and Finance Talk 2024.
Change Initiative, a non-government organisation, in cooperation with several other organisations, organised the event in the capital鈥檚 Bangabandhu Military Museum.
Environment, forest, and climate change minister Saber Hossain Chowdhury said that Bangladesh was not an emitter of carbon dioxide but Bangladesh would transform to renewable energy for its own benefit.
Currently, Bangladesh produces renewable energy 4 to 4.5 per cent of its total production but emit very insignificant amount.
鈥榊es, we will move to renewable energy with the latest technology because we have time to transform,鈥� he said, adding that irrigation pumps are a potential scope to use and negate solar energy.
鈥楥onverting irrigation pumps to renewable energy will save 5,000 megawatts of electricity,鈥� he said.
He also said, 鈥榃e are encouraging the private sector to invest in renewable energy projects. The government has set a goal to produce 40 per cent of our electricity from renewable sources by 2041. This goal is crucial for ensuring energy security, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.
Change Initiative executive director M Zakir Hossain Khan said that renewable energy was economically viable and the future potential source of energy which had already slowed down the spread of fossil fuel.
Sustainable Renewable Energy Development Authority chairman Munira Sultana admitted that renewable energy was cheap but its installation cost was high.
The speakers said that there were some national or international funds for renewable energy but it was difficult to mobilise them.
They demanded removal of barriers.
UAE Ambassador to Bangladesh Abdulla Ali Abdulla Khaseif AlHmoudi, Alternative Law Collective鈥檚 research director Zain Moulvi, Planning Commission member for industry and energy Md Mustafizur Rahman and East West University business and economics faculty dean AK Enamul Haque spoke, among others, at the event.
