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Review

The Obstruction and Advancement in Sustainable Energy Sector to Achieve SDG in Bangladesh

by
M. A. Munjer
1,
Md. Zahid Hasan
1,
M. Khalid Hossain
2,3,* and
Md. Ferdous Rahman
1,*
1
Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur 5400, Bangladesh
2
Institute of Electronics, AERE, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka 1349, Bangladesh
3
Department of Advanced Energy Engineering Science, IGSES, Kyushu University, Fukuoka 816-8580, Japan
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 3913; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053913
Submission received: 15 December 2022 / Revised: 30 January 2023 / Accepted: 9 February 2023 / Published: 21 February 2023
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Development Goals and Role of Energy)
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Abstract

:
For a developing country such as Bangladesh, renewable energy is immensely important for its entire development and advancement. Bangladesh has taken steps to increase the development capacity in the renewable energy sector and to fulfill the target of achieving one hundred percent electrification. The goal of this study is to determine the present scenario of the capability of the sustainable energy sector, the advancement as well as achievement of adopted plans, obstacles to achieving goals, and to discuss overall issues with necessary suggestions. In this article, according to qualitative research, data have been collected about the steps taken by Bangladesh in the renewable sector, potential achievements, and various progress to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) in the renewable energy sector. The most important things that have been discussed in this article are what obstacles Bangladesh faces in increasing the capacity of renewable energy and what steps should be taken to overcome those obstacles. To present the obstacles in this article, some important points are discussed including the lack of coordination among the institutions that are responsible for implementing ongoing projects and the lack of adequate maintenance. In addition to increasing public awareness of the mentioned obstacles, valuable advice has also been given in making the loan system accessible to entrepreneurs and customers, increasing the capability of renewable energy, and encouraging conducting research on the overall subject. Nevertheless, for technological advancement in the sustainable energy sector, it has been suggested to reduce imports and to make renewable energy equipment available by increasing the production of the equipment that is necessary. To enrich this renewable energy sector in a sustainable manner, the analysis of the current state of the energy division of Bangladesh, taken steps, obstacles, and given proposals presented in this article will play an important role in the future.

1. Introduction

To build a better planet while maintaining global warming as well as environmental balance, the United Nations (UN) has several objectives in the field of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that elevate the world [1,2,3]. The seventh goal of the 17 (seventeen) targets of the SDGs is determined to give the world an affordable, reliable, and sustainable fuel capacity considering renewable fuels as a significant part of production by 2030 [4,5,6]. Figure 1 depicts the all-seventeenths goal set by the UN for countries around the globe where Goal 7 is entitled “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”. On the other hand, one of the targets of Goal 7 is to “increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix by 2030” [7]. It has been mentioned in sustainable development goals that every country must derive a specified portion from the renewable energy sector so that it will be possible to form a pollution-free world by reducing the emission of carbon [8,9,10,11]. Following this, all developed countries have set a mandatory target for renewable energy, which is known as the “Mandatory renewable energy target”. The mandatory goal of renewable fuel defines what percentage of a country’s total electricity capacity will be acquired from renewable fuel in a given period.
Decisions have been made in different countries such that by 2020, Australia would achieve 20%; Egypt, 20%; Taiwan, 12%; and EU member states, 20%. By 2025, New Zealand will achieve 70%; Canada, 50%; Mexico, 50%; USA, 50%; and China will achieve its target of 35% renewable energy by 2030 [13,14,15,16]. In this trend, the Government of Bangladesh decided that its renewable energy sector achieve the target of 10% of total power generation capacity by 2020 to generate power from renewable energy sources [17]. On the other hand, Bangladesh set targets for 2021 and 2030 to save 15% and 20% of total fuel consumption, respectively [18]. To give importance to the fuel sector, when it had been decided to generate 10% of the total electricity generation by 2020 from renewable energy, at that time the capacity from renewable sources needed was about 2000 MW [19].
To reduce global warming and to control the fuel crisis, almost every country in the world has adopted an alternative to electricity sources that do not emit carbon [20,21,22,23,24,25,26]. To accelerate sustainable development, Nigeria is seriously considering biofuel as a source of renewable energy [27]. To determine what kind of alternative energy Bangladesh will adopt as a developing country, the geographical location of the country can be considered an important aspect. First of all, Bangladesh receives a daily solar irradiation of 4.3–4.9 kWh/m2 that can create much sunlight throughout the year: roughly 1570–1789 kWh/m2 per year as shown in Figure 2 [28].
On the other hand, in the dry season, the daily duration of sunrise in Bangladesh is about 7.6 h, and in the monsoon season, it is about 4.7 h [29]. In the monsoon season, there are several suitable places for wind power in Bangladesh, of which 724 km-long islands and a few islands in the Bay of Bengal are notable. To generate electricity, the cut-in speed of wind should be 3–5 m/s for a modern-type wind turbine [30], and peak power can be harvested during the rated wind speed between 10 m/s and 15 m/s [31,32].
From the wind resource map of Bangladesh at 100 m height, it can be observed that the coastal areas have the ability to cope with modern wind generators where average wind speed varies from 6 m/s as shown in Figure 3 [28]. The Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, Meteorological Department, and Local Government Engineering Department have revealed that wind speed varies from 2.96 to 5.70 m per second at 50 m altitude in different parts of Bangladesh [33]. Disaster prevention in coastal areas, such as barrages and Swiss Gates, use tidal power to generate electricity in those places using the tidal height of about 2–8 m in the Bay of Bengal, and these can be an important source of renewable energy for Bangladesh [34].
Considering all these issues in the context of Bangladesh, solar power, wind power, and hydropower can be considered important renewable energy sectors. On the other hand, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals on renewable energy, various discussions have been taking place in various research articles around the world. Some studies have highlighted the energy sector in developing countries, but there has been no discussion of achieving specific targets. Types of, possibilities of, and obstacles facing renewable energy in Bangladesh have been discussed in a large number of articles. Of these, some studies on renewable energy and sustainable development goals have been reviewed. In the context of Bangladesh, what kind of targets have been set for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals on this subject, steps taken in the plans, implementation constraints, and suggestions are insufficient. This article reviews the progress and obstacles in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh in implementing the SDG targets. As a result, this research will play an important role in creating public awareness of the implementation of SDGs as well as in the research campaigns of policymakers.

2. Literature Review

There are various research articles on achieving Sustainable Development Goals that discuss the role of the renewable energy sector. On the other hand, some research articles have intensely reviewed the barriers to the renewable energy sector in achieving sustainable goals. Policy making, competence in research articles on various developed and developing countries and socioeconomic status, as well as analytical discussions on barriers have prevailed [35]. For example, the main objective of the research conducted by K. Murugaperumal [36] was to present a technically feasible and economically acceptable hybrid power generation system for off-grid electrification in a rural area of India, the fastest-developing nation. Their system features a mix of solar power, wind turbines, and bio generators. The study mentions that this system will increase the reliability of the power system, which will contribute to the development of environmentally sustainable development. In another study [37], he investigated how to improve the performance of hybrid electrification systems in an area rich in renewable energy, and in this study, he showed that techno-economic and eco-friendly electrification systems can implement improved power management with low cost and low gas emissions. The research paper on this trend in Bangladesh focuses on various aspects of technological development and the potential of renewable energy [38,39]. Moreover, some articles have highlighted the importance of the sector and its real status [17,40]. This section discusses research on renewable energy capabilities, potentials, and barriers in various developing countries.

2.1. Possibilities for and Barriers to Renewable Energy in Developing Countries

A study has been conducted on the importance of the global renewable energy sector [41]. This research paper discusses the impact of renewable and non-renewable fuels on sustainable development. For this purpose, data from 40 developed and 73 developing countries have been analyzed in this article. The analysis shows that renewable energy fuel will contribute more than non-renewable energy in developed and developing countries to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
As a result, sustainable development is accelerating as renewable energy capacity increases. As a result, the use of renewable fuels over non-renewable fuels is increasing in various countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. Researched data have been presented by Khoury (2016) and Alazraque-Cherni (2008) on the fuel efficiency of developing countries [42,43]. In these articles, researchers discussed important aspects of developing countries’ goals and achievements in the energy sector in the light of economic, political, and social realities, and pointed out inadequate funding and lack of proper policymaking as major obstacles in some developing countries. In terms of renewable energy, what role renewable energy can play in building sustainable rural infrastructure in developing countries, as well as technical, infrastructural, and economic barriers [44], have come up in all these articles. Painuly (2001) has identified some of the major obstacles in some developing countries’ ability to achieve sustainable energy, such as market inequality, economic viability, and technological and institutional problems [45]. The differences between the steps required to overcome these obstacles have been highlighted in different countries and regions. A study by Pegels (2010) highlighted the importance, barriers, and potential of the renewable energy sector in South Africa as a developing country [46]. Lack of funding for technological advancement in the renewable energy sector has been identified as a major obstacle.
Another study also highlighted the potentiality of and obstacles to renewable energy in Tanzania, among other developing countries, in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals [47]. Some suggestions have been made in research work to overcome these obstacles. Researchers have stressed the importance of renewable energy to ensure the self-sufficiency and accessibility of electricity, noting that if renewable energy can be produced in a modern and sustainable way, Tanzania’s electricity problem will be solved and sustainable development will be achieved. As a developing country, Ghana has considered SDG-6 an important goal [48]. However, to implement it, the country is facing a number of challenges, such as resource shortages and weakness in hydropower generation. In order to overcome these obstacles, the study offers suggestions on how to increase policymaking, research, and development. Researchers have spotlighted the importance of government incentives to expand solar power [49,50,51,52,53,54] as renewable energy for rural electrification, and have described these incentives as important in the development of medium and small grids. Furthermore, suggestions have been presented on setting local policies to solve various problems of rural electrification.
The role of renewable energy in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and local development in the Philippines, another developing country, is described in a research paper [55]. The survey was conducted in rural areas to complete the study and suggested proper funding for the future development of renewable energy. The findings show that the use of electricity has a significant impact on improving the quality of life, and sustainable development is possible through the use of renewable fuels at low cost.

2.2. Possibilities for and Targets of Renewable Energy in Bangladesh

In addition to assessing Bangladesh’s power generation capacity and shortages, the importance and potential of renewable fuels to overcome barriers have been discussed in another study [40]. The article states that it will be possible to meet the growing demand for electricity in Bangladesh through the use of renewable energy. In the case of the socio-economic development of the country, renewable energy is reducing environmental pollution and also helping to reduce dependence on non-renewable energy. The steps taken to achieve SDG-7 in Bangladesh, and the current situation, have been reflected in various studies. Among them, the study titled “Development and Prospects of Bangladesh in Renewable Fuel Sector” has provided suggestions on technological development and more research [17]. The article mentions that one of the decisions taken by the Government of Bangladesh in the renewable energy sector is to achieve the target of 10% of total power generation capacity by 2020 to be power generated from renewable energy sources.
Another study gives an overview of the overall situation of renewable fuels in different countries of the world, as well as highlights the potential of renewable fuels to meet the national electricity demand of Bangladesh [56]. The article mentions that the total fuel capacity of Bangladesh has been determined by 2020. The importance of solar power as renewable energy and its role in meeting demand has been discussed. However, by reducing the dependency on conventional power sources, it will be possible to overcome the current problem and meet the demand for electricity through the use of renewable fuels and proper planning. A review of previous research articles shows that various research work has been carried out on the renewable energy potentials for and barriers to Bangladesh, as well as various developing countries. However, research work has not been carried out by reviewing the work plan, capabilities, and obstacles of Bangladesh like other developing countries in achieving SDGs. This research will play an important role in researching various aspects of the achievements and barriers to the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh in achieving SDGs.

3. Research Method

Data collected from both primary and secondary sources have been analyzed using qualitative research methods. Secondary information has been collected from research articles, important government documents, and various international journals. In addition, various international and domestic research collections on renewable energy have played a leading role in analyzing the information and data obtained. Interviews were conducted with various senior officials of the power sector, business people involved in renewable fuels, entrepreneurs, project management organizations, and responsible persons at the customer level. In this case, two Assistant Engineers of the Bangladesh Power Development Board were asked for their views on the current status and plans of renewable energy in Bangladesh. Furthermore, some engineers working at the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh (EGCB), West zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WPDCL), and Power Cell Bangladesh were interviewed.

4. Targets for Sustainable Renewable Energy for Achieving SDGs in Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s foray into renewable energy began in 1957 with the construction of the Karnafuli River Hydropower Station at Kaptai in Chittagong. The first and only hydropower plant in the country was started in 1962 in Kaptai Upazila of Rangamati District. Bangladesh’s first wind power plant, located at Sonagazi on the banks of the Muhuri River in Feni District, was launched in 2005 as a pilot project called Muhuri Project. The plant has four turbines with a capacity of 225 kW and a generating capacity of about 1 megawatt. Another wind power plant with the same capacity was commissioned on 10 February 2017, at Kutubdia in Cox’s Bazar, where the power plant used 50 turbines of 20 kW capacity to supply electricity to more than 500 customers.
The model presented for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the renewable energy sector in light of the 7th Five-Year Plan adopted by the department of Power and Energy of Bangladesh is presented in Figure 4. The Seventh Goal of Sustainable Development Goals is intended to make affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern fuel accessible to all. Objective 7.2 calls for a significant increase in the number of renewable fuels in global fuel by 2030. In addition, there are guidelines for considering the use of renewable fuels as a significant component in the use of total fuels for operation. To achieve the “Sustainable and Pollution Free Fuel” goal of the Sustainable Development Goals, the goal set by Bangladesh in the Power and Fuel Sector in the 7th Five-Year Plan intends to ensure sustainable efficiency in production, consumption, and utilization of power and fuel resources. In line with the Sustainable Development Goals, four indicators of power generation, known as KPIs, have been identified under the heading “Key Performance Indicators (KPI)”. The KPI Index has set a target of achieving 10% of the total production capacity of renewable fuels by 2020 [19].

5. Steps Taken by Bangladesh in the Renewable Energy Sector to Achieve SDG

The SDGs set the agenda that aims to protect the planet through sustainable development, as well as self-development and prosperity for each country. This study presents the steps that Bangladesh has taken to achieve sustainable energy efficiency. The study shows that a number of institutions have been formed and important initiatives have been taken to meet the targets set for achieving SDGs, among which SREDA formation and home electrification are most important. Bangladesh is also moving towards sustainable renewable energy capacity by launching important installations such as mini-grids, wind power plants, and biogas plants [57].

5.1. SREDA Formation

Bangladesh formed the Sustainable and Renewable Fuel Development Authority (SREDA) to ensure sustainable development in the fuel sector, as well as to provide a fuel-conscious environment by providing fuel security and reducing carbon emissions. SREDA’s priorities are to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels to ensure the safety of fuel, to develop renewable fuels, to take appropriate action to save fuel, and to continuously explore new potential sustainable fuels. Steps taken for this purpose include formulating policies, rules, and regulations to motivate people to save fuel; developing various business models to create entrepreneurs for investment; identifying and analyzing access to various funds for sustainable energy development; hiring short-term and long-term skilled and experienced consultants in specialized activities; conducting various studies to evaluate the feasibility of renewable fuels; and experimentally introducing new technologies and models for this. In order to implement projects related to renewable energy, financing activities have been expanded through government financial institutions such as Bangladesh Bank and private commercial banks, and Bangladesh has provided exempt incentives on renewable fuel products.

5.2. Home Electrification

In order to bring Bangladesh under 100% electrification by 2021, solar home system programs were running in those areas where it is not possible to get electricity. As a result of the IDCOL program, it had been possible to install about 5 million solar power systems among more than 13 million customers, and the rate is increasing by about 60% every year. The IDCOL target had been set to reach 220 MW capacity in the solar home systems sector by 2021. This large-scale renewable energy home electrification program has gained a great reputation around the world. Furthermore, Bangladesh is also considering the installation of rooftop (roof surface) solar power as a potential sector. As of July 2019, IDCOL approved 11 rooftop projects, 4 of which are already supplying 3 MW of electricity. Although the statistics are very small, it is a good initiative. Additionally, plans had been made to increase the capacity of this sector to 300 MW by 2022 [58].

5.3. Mini-Grid Placement

If a solar power network of 100 kW to 5 MW capacity with a minimum of 10 subscribers provides power disconnected from the national grid, it is known as mini-grid solar power. Similarly, solar power systems with a capacity of 10 to 100 kW and 3 to 10 kW are known as micro- and nano-grids, respectively. So far, 11 solar mini-grids have been set up in remote areas with the funding of IDCOL, and 15 more mini-grids are in process with a combined capacity of 2.19 MW to 3.17 MW [18].

5.4. Establishing Wind Power Plants

To further enrich the renewable energy sector, Bangladesh has taken various initiatives besides setting up wind power plants, which will enable a generation capacity of 1360 MW by 2021. To this end, the collection of wind-flow data has been completed in 2016 in nine potential regions of the country, including the coast, under the “Wind Resource Mapping Project”. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) had planned to set up two 50 MW wind power plants at Inani Beach in Cox’s Bazar and Independent Power Producer (IPP) at Mongla in Khulna with the target of completion by 2021 [59,60].

5.5. Establishing Biogas Plants

Gas and electricity are generated from biogas plants, and the residue can be used as excellent organic fertilizer. The country’s first integrated waste management project was set up in 2016 in the Hamidpur area of Jessore municipality. The plant has the capacity to generate 720 cubic meters of biogas and about 430 kilowatts of electricity daily. As of December 2019, according to IDCOL, more than 53,200 biogas plants have been set up in the country through 36 partner organizations, through which it is possible to produce a maximum of about 25 cubic feet of biogas daily [61]. According to another estimate by IDCOL, several biogas-based power plants of 250 to 400 kW have been financed. Many private companies are playing an important role in this regard by financing in various ways. Grameen Shakti, one of the leading NGOs in Bangladesh, has set up more than 13 thousand plants across the country so far.

5.6. Identifying a Tidal Area

The most favorable locations for power generation in Bangladesh through the application of tidal power are in the eastern part of the delta region, such as Sandwip. It is considered to be the most suitable place to set up a tidal power plant, as the tide here is fast enough and the water level is up to seven meters. Experts identify Cox’s Bazar district as a potential area for this sector and see the potential to generate 2.23 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually. Net-metering customers will be benefited financially as the unit price of electricity generated from renewable fuels is less than the unit price of electricity taken from the grid. In view of this, the cost of setting up renewable fuel power plants in industries will rise in a few years. Net-Metering Guidelines were formulated in 2017 to implement the government’s goal of popularizing the renewable energy sector [62]. As a pilot program, the power distribution companies were given the target of creating 20 net-metering subscribers by mid-2018, but all but the Rural Electrification Board (REB) failed to meet this target. This target was later raised to 100 per company [63].

6. Bangladesh’s Achievements in Renewable Energy

6.1. Progress on SDG Goal-7: Affordable and Clean Energy in SDG Index

In the Sustainable Development Report 2022, it can be seen that in East and South Asia, Bangladesh and Cambodia have made the most progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals between 2015 and 2022 [64]. However, the same report also mentions that most of Bangladesh’s 17 goals have major challenges. Figure 5 shows that although Goal-7 has significant challenges in terms of affordable and clean energy, development is increasing at a moderate rate. Only Bhutan in this trend performs on track to attain the goal, although certain challenges remain, as in the case of other countries in Southeast Asia.

6.2. Present Renewable Energy Generation Capacity

Table 1 presents the current renewable energy production capacity of Bangladesh. Among the renewable energy sources, the maximum generating capacity is solar power at 716 megawatts. The capacity for hydroelectricity is 230 MW. The only hydropower plant in Bangladesh has a generating capacity of 230 MW, but it is necessary to start such a new power plant. Various projects have been undertaken to expand biogas power, but it is limited to 0.69 MW. Although three wind power plants have been completed, only two are operational, from which only 2.9 MW is being generated. As a result, the total generation capacity of Bangladesh’s current renewable energy sector is about 951 MW.
Since 2015, the continuous development of the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh has increased the generation capacity according to demand at various times, as presented in Table 2. The data show that the greatest generation capacity increase is in 2021 at about 170 MW, whereas the second- and third-greatest generation capacity increases are in 2020 and 2022 at 64.77 MW and 54.12 MW, respectively. However, between 2015 and 2019, the amount of energy capacity added was less than 50 MW. Between 2015 and 2017, about 19 MW was added every year Lastly, in 2018 and 2019, about 40 MW and 43.73 MW of capacity were added, respectively.

6.3. Present Renewable Energy Generation Capacity

All the projects that Bangladesh has undertaken to increase renewable energy production capacity SREDA have been classified into two categories: small renewable projects (small RE) and large renewable projects (large RE). Under the small-project category, the projects included Solar Home System, Solar Street Light, Solar Water Heater, and Biogas Plant.
Under the large-project category, Wind, Hydro, Bio Gas, Biomass, and Solar have been categorized through various production activities such as Solar Park, Solar Net Metering, Solar irrigation, Solar Minigrid, Solar Micro Grid, and Nano Grid Charging Station. Bangladesh’s renewable energy production capacity has been divided into small and large renewable energy sectors since 2015, and it can be seen from Table 3 that the renewable energy production capacity of Bangladesh has gradually increased in the years since 2015.
From Figure 6 it can be observed that in 2015 the generation capacity was 421 MW, which increased to 951 MW in 2022. It can also be observed that the production of small renewable energy in Bangladesh increased from 168.7 MW to 288 MW, while the production of large renewable energy increased from 252 MW to 663 MW.

6.4. Year-Wise Generation Capacity of Solar Technology

In terms of renewable energy capacity in Bangladesh, Table 4 presents the number of capacity additions from solar sources in the activities undertaken from 2018 to 2022. In Table 4, it can be seen that the solar generation capacity addition in 2018 is about 40 MW, and the maximum generation capacity increase is in 2021 at about 170 MW. Further, the production capacities of 54 and 64 MW have been added in the years 2020 and 2022, respectively, while 43.73 MW was added in 2019.

6.5. Electricity Generation Share

Table 5 presents the necessary data to represent the dependence on different energy sectors for electricity production in Bangladesh. It shows how much electricity is being produced in Bangladesh from which energy sources, and what percentage is dependent on these energy sources. It can be seen that the production capacity of electricity produced with gas as fuel is 11,476 MW, which is almost half (44.53%) of the total production capacity. A very important energy source is renewable energy, which accounts for 3.59 percent of the total generating capacity, and has a generating capacity of about 951 MW. This production capacity was planned by the Bangladesh government to increase by ten percent by 2020 to achieve SDG.
Data on renewable fuels and total power generation capacity from 2015 to 2022 obtained from the survey are presented in Table 6 and Figure 7. It can be seen that the total power generation capacity of Bangladesh has been gradually increasing since 2015, along with the renewable energy capacity. In order to achieve the sustainable capacity of renewable fuels in Bangladesh in SDG implementation, it was more than six percent in 2015 alone. As such, the target adopted by Bangladesh was about 3.69 percent. No progress has been made in meeting the remaining targets in the following three years, resulting in a gradual decline from 2017 to 2020 to 3.94 percent.
On a small scale, after 2020, Bangladesh’s power generation capacity through renewable energy increased. Table 6 shows that the production capacity was 3.58% in 2021, which increased to 3.69% in 2022. One thing to note is that the target set by the Bangladesh government to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals or SDGs of 10% by 2020 has not been achieved. In the years 2021 and 2022, however, it has slightly increased to close to four percen but has yet to reach 10 percent.
As a result, in terms of percentages, Bangladesh has lagged far behind in achieving its targets. Although various projects and targets have been adopted to enrich the renewable energy sector of Bangladesh in the post-2016 period, it has come to 3.94 and 2.75 percent in 2019 and 2020, respectively. In these two years, the production capacity of renewable fuels has decreased.

6.6. Energy Generation and Carbon Savings

Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are often measured as elemental carbon in kt (kilotons). The installed capacity of renewable energy systems as sources in Bangladesh and the expected energy generation from them are presented in Table 7. Furthermore, the amount of carbon emissions reduced by the electricity generated from each source is shown in the third column. It can be observed that the highest carbon dioxide-emission reduction was achieved through large hydro systems with a capacity of 230 MW and an expected energy generation of five trillion-watt hours, which is the highest among other technologies. Furthermore, the second-highest position in the table is occupied by the solar home system with an installed capacity of 263.69 megawatts and an expected energy generation of two trillion watts, resulting in a carbon dioxide-emission reduction of 973 kilotons. Other important measures include Solar Parks, Solar Aggregation, and Solar Roof Top, which have reduced CO2 emissions by 259 kilotons, 118 kilotons, and 140 kilotons, respectively.

6.7. Net Metering Capacity

Continuing to meet the targets of SDGs, the net metering system was introduced in Bangladesh in 2017 to increase the renewable fuel capacity, and great efforts began to increase its scope. The overall picture of the net metering system in Bangladesh through this study is illustrated in Table 8. It can be observed that the maximum amount of net metering capacity was added in 2021 at 19.41 MW, while the second-highest was 15.34 MW in 2022. A total of 10.04 MW was added in 2019.
In addition, the survey wanted to highlight the role of companies involved in power generation, marketing, and distribution in increasing the number of net-metering subscribers. The latest data obtained are shown in Table 9 and Figure 8. Among the mentioned companies, REB has an installed capacity is 28.728 MW, which is the largest among other responsible companies.
Two Dhaka-based companies, DPDC and DESCO, have a capacity of 3.01 MW and 2.59 MW, respectively. A review of the issue shows that DPDC and DESCO work for Dhaka-based power distribution and development related to power distribution in remote areas of REB.
However, there are more industries in Dhaka than in remote areas, which have ample opportunity to use rooftops. In addition, there is much demand for electricity in these factories. REB could play an important role in the development of the net-metering system through constructive decisions of Dhaka-based organizations.

6.8. Recent Net Metering Progress

Table 10 shows the net metering progress in the last three months wherein the current capacity of various responsible companies and the amount of capacity increase are presented. Dhaka-based companies DESCO and DPDC, which have great potential for solar rooftops, have made disappointing progress.

6.9. Progress of Renewable Energy Share in Bangladesh

Table 11 presents the year-wise population growth and population growth rate of Bangladesh, GDP growth rate, and renewable energy share. It can be observed that the population density growth of Bangladesh has not changed much between 2015 and 2022, but the GDP growth rate has increased slightly between 2015 and 2019 and decreased to 3.45 percent in 2020, which then increased in 2021 and 2022, respectively, from 6.94 percent to 7.20 percent.
Concerning the rate of renewable energy share, it will be seen that the value of energy share increases in 2021 and 2022 from the year 2020, the GDP growth rate decreases in 2020, and the amount of renewable energy share also decreases. This could be one of the causes of the global coronavirus epidemic.

7. Obstacles to Achieving SDGS in the Renewable Energy Sector

The obstacles that Bangladesh is facing in the development of the solar power sector have been analyzed through this study. The findings of the study show that some constraints include the unavailability of suitable land, lack of skilled engineers, poor grid management, the inadequacy of statistical data in light of geographical conditions, and a lack of skilled workers and sound management. The efficiency of solar power panels is usually less than 20%, so more space is required to set up high-capacity solar plants. About 3.5 acres of land is required to generate every megawatt of solar power, so about 350 acres of land would be required to set up a 100 MW solar plant. As Bangladesh is an agricultural country, it is not possible for the government to acquire large-scale land for installing solar panels on cultivable land Furthermore, considering island areas as alternatives, the cost of transporting electricity would increase because of their distance from the national grid. In many cases, landowners are reluctant to set up transport towers to generate electricity. Due to the problem of the construction of transport lines, the implementation of various projects has been delayed for a long time [73].
Bangladesh is a densely populated country. The number of landowners is high relative to the number of many small plots of land with the potential for setting up plants. Although there is a large amount of land suitable for setting up large-scale solar projects, it is the property of many landowners. As a result, more time has to be spent on land acquisition and legal processes [74]. Large areas along the rivers of riverine Bangladesh are considered to be suitable for setting up solar plants, but as these are lowlands, most of the rivers are flooded every year. Therefore, in order to implement solar projects, additional funds have to be spent on structural development in these places [75].
There are only two grid-connected solar projects in Bangladesh, one at Jamalpur’s Sarishabari and the other at Teknaf. In most cases, skilled engineers have to be brought in from other countries to solve problems with these. An analysis of the two ongoing projects shows that there is a large shortage of skilled engineers and human effort to implement large-scale solar power projects [76]. The amount of energy produced from solar power depends on the elements of nature, such as light intensity, dust, and the presence of light. As these elements of nature change, the rate of power generation decreases or increases. As a result, the grid to which solar power will be connected has to endure these changes and various unforeseen errors [77]. To cope with such a situation, the national grid of Bangladesh has not been enriched by modern technology to a large extent. For example, the backout of Bangladesh in 2013 is worth mentioning. These considerations can be attributed to poor grid management as an obstacle to achieving renewable energy targets.
Technical standards and codes are required at the national level for the implementation of large projects. Skilled suppliers are reluctant to implement projects considering the risks involved, as there is no code or standard for implementing large projects through solar technology. It has also been suggested that bureaucratic complexity is one of the major obstacles to the spread of renewable energy. Although it is now mandatory to conduct online purchases of goods and services, in some cases more than twenty approvals are required to allow a service provider to start with a project plan. Such conditions can be considered one of the major obstacles to achieving set goals.
In order to increase the renewable energy production capacity of Bangladesh, statistical data is required in light of geographical conditions. For example, data are required to determine the intensity of sunlight in any part of the country or the circulation of atmospheric air. Surveys are currently being conducted on specific topics as part of the implementation of various projects, but there is no nationally-recognized data storage system. As a result, many international organizations feel the need for data to participate in various projects. As a result, in most cases, projects require extra time and many people are reluctant to take part in the project considering the risks involved. In many cases, large projects have to be approved for additional funding [78]. Many projects are not succeeding due to a lack of skilled workers and sound management, as in the Feni wind power plant, for example. The Feni wind power plant was launched as a pilot project in 2005 but closed two years later. Many valuable parts became useless because of mismanagement. After being shut down for seven years, it was reopened. Although many important projects have begun, they have not been able to successfully contribute to the supply of electricity [79].

8. Suggestions for Acquiring SDGs in the Renewable Energy Sector

This study raises some important suggestions for overcoming the obstacles that have been presented in the implementation of SDGs in the renewable energy sector. Among these are floating solar power, easy loans, raising awareness, organizing seminars, and setting up industries. The problem of land availability can be alleviated by floating solar power plants. Fish farms in the South can be involved in this work. The current generation capacity of Kaptai Hydropower Station is 230 MW. By employing advanced technology and skilled labor, it will be possible to increase the hydropower generation capacity by 100 megawatts by adding 2 more turbines of 50 MW to the power plant [80]. This sector of renewable energy can expand rapidly as a result of various steps being taken to raise awareness among the general public about the availability and benefits of biogas. Farmers should be encouraged to build biogas plants through discussions or seminars on practical knowledge and techniques. In order to meet the fuel demand on its own, it is necessary to arrange easy loans at the farmer or consumer level. In this case, the government as well as private lenders can play a leading role. Government policymakers and concerned organizations need to come forward in these sectors so that the suppliers get maximum cooperation for setting up these plants [81]. In the implementation of the country’s adopted goals in the renewable energy sector, coordination must be maintained among all, including all entrepreneurs in the field. Work can be done to increase research activities in educational institutions to advance the renewable energy sector. SREDA can play an important role in this. This problem can be solved by allocating necessary funds for research work, observing it properly, preparing constructive data, as well as ensuring its preservation [82]. Neighboring India produces equipment for this technology. If production can be started in Bangladesh by encouraging investors to set up industries for the technological development of renewable fuels, then the implementation of large projects at low cost by reducing imports will be accelerated [83]. Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) can be adopted through the energy efficiency planning cycle, as shown in Figure 9, to achieve economic as well as sustainable development and prosperity, as well as renewable energy generation capacity for Bangladesh [84].

9. Conclusions

This study mainly discusses the extent to which Bangladesh has achieved its renewable energy potential and the targets set within the SDGs. Research shows that almost all countries in the world are working hard to improve the global environment by meeting Sustainable Development Goals. Furthermore, preventing environmental pollution by increasing the capacity of renewable fuels is one of the Sustainable Development Goals. Following this, the developing and developed countries of the world have determined for a certain period of time how much of their fuel capacity will be derived from renewable fuels. As a developing country, Bangladesh has adopted various plans and initiatives with the objective of sustainable development goals in mind. Plans have been adopted to increase the capacity of the country’s renewable energy sector to 10% of the total power generation capacity by 2020. Among the steps taken are the construction of SREDA, electrification of houses, installation of mini-grids, construction of wind power plants, construction of biogas plants, and identification of areas for tidal power. Research has shown that solar power and hydropower are playing a major role in achieving the goal of sustainable development in the renewable energy sector in Bangladesh. In addition, significant advances have been achieved in wind power, biogas, and biomass. This study also found that one of the major achievements of Bangladesh in the renewable energy sector is that the net metering production capacity is progressive. REB’s ability is more commendable than that of various companies involved in power distribution and marketing such as PDB, DPDC, DESCO, WZPDCL, and UNESCO. This study found that land mismanagement, lack of efficient engineering management, and poor grid management were among the major obstacles to achieving the targets in constructing and transporting renewable power plants. Furthermore, the lack of national technical standards and skilled labor are obstacles in the way of progress in this sector. Measures suggested in this study for Bangladesh to overcome these obstacles include providing easy loans and technical assistance, increasing the capacity of hydropower plants, raising awareness, and increasing research. This study focuses on the capacity, impediments, and necessary suggestions for achieving SDGs in the renewable energy sector, but in the case of Bangladesh, there is a need for more research on the future outline and planning of this sector. As a result, there is an opportunity for SDGs to conduct research on future plans for renewable energy.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, M.A.M.; methodology, M.A.M.; validation, M.A.M., M.K.H. and M.F.R.; formal analysis, M.A.M., M.Z.H., M.K.H. and M.F.R.; investigation, M.A.M. and M.Z.H.; resources, M.A.M.; data curation, M.A.M. and M.Z.H.; writing—original draft preparation, M.A.M. and M.Z.H.; writing—review and editing, M.A.M., M.K.H. and M.F.R.; visualization, M.A.M., M.Z.H., M.K.H. and M.F.R.; supervision, M.A.M., M.K.H. and M.F.R.; project administration, M.A.M., M.K.H. and M.F.R. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

This research received no external funding.

Institutional Review Board Statement

The study was approved by the review committee of EEE department of Begum Rokeya University, Rangpur on 30 April 2022.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Not applicable.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations (UN) [12].
Figure 1. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by the United Nations (UN) [12].
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Figure 2. Global Horizontal Irradiation in Bangladesh [28].
Figure 2. Global Horizontal Irradiation in Bangladesh [28].
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Figure 3. Wind resource map of Bangladesh [28].
Figure 3. Wind resource map of Bangladesh [28].
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Figure 4. Bangladesh’s plans in the renewable energy sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Figure 4. Bangladesh’s plans in the renewable energy sector to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
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Figure 5. SDG dashboards for East and South Asia (levels and trends) in 2022 [64].
Figure 5. SDG dashboards for East and South Asia (levels and trends) in 2022 [64].
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Figure 6. Yearly growth of Bangladesh’s small and large renewable sources.
Figure 6. Yearly growth of Bangladesh’s small and large renewable sources.
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Figure 7. Annual renewable fuel production capacity (percentage) of total production capacity.
Figure 7. Annual renewable fuel production capacity (percentage) of total production capacity.
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Figure 8. Comparative review of institution-based net-metering capacity.
Figure 8. Comparative review of institution-based net-metering capacity.
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Figure 9. Energy efficiency planning cycle [84].
Figure 9. Energy efficiency planning cycle [84].
Sustainability 15 03913 g009
Table
Table 1. Production capacity in various renewable sectors of Bangladesh [65].
Table 1. Production capacity in various renewable sectors of Bangladesh [65].
TechnologyCapacity (MW)
Solar Power716.73
Wind Power2.9
Hydroelectricity230
Biogas0.69
Biomass0.4
Total (MW)950.72
Table
Table 2. Year-wise Production capacity enhancement in various renewable sectors [66].
Table 2. Year-wise Production capacity enhancement in various renewable sectors [66].
YearInstalled Capacity (MW)
202254.12
2021169.97
202064.77
201943.73
201839.99
201718.79
201619.36
201518.41
Table
Table 3. Production capacity in small and large projects renewable sectors of Bangladesh [65].
Table 3. Production capacity in small and large projects renewable sectors of Bangladesh [65].
YearSmall RE (MW)Large RE (MW)Total (MW)
2015168.7252.371421.0706
2016178.73271.7306450.4606
2017228.73290.5206519.2506
2018245.24330.5206575.7606
2019267.31374.2506641.5606
2020288.79439.0206727.8106
2021288.79608.9906897.7806
2022288.811663.1106951.9216
Table
Table 4. Yearly solar-sources production capacity of Bangladesh [66].
Table 4. Yearly solar-sources production capacity of Bangladesh [66].
YearInstalled Capacity (MW)
202254.1185
2021169.9691
202064.46358
201943.73679
201839.99964
Table
Table 5. Renewable energy share with production capacity of Bangladesh [67].
Table 5. Renewable energy share with production capacity of Bangladesh [67].
Fuel/ResourceInstalled Capacity (MW)Share
Coal17686.86%
Gas11,47644.53%
HFO627824.36%
HSD13415.2%
Imported11604.5%
Renewable950.83.69%
Captive280010.86%
Total25774100%
Table
Table 6. Data on renewable fuels and total power generation capacity [65].
Table 6. Data on renewable fuels and total power generation capacity [65].
YearNet Power Production Capacity (MW)Production Capacity of Renewable Fuels
(MW)Percentage of Total Power Generation Capacity (%)
202225,774950.803.69
202122,031788.843.58
202022,787626.942.75
201915,674618.703.94
201812,582563.654.47
20178819509.215.77
20167632447.185.85
20156500418.906.44
Table
Table 7. Technology-wise CO2 emission reduction predicted by SREDA [68].
Table 7. Technology-wise CO2 emission reduction predicted by SREDA [68].
Technology NameInstalled Capacity (MW)Till 18 January 2023
Expected Energy Generation (GWh)CO2 Emission Reduction (ktCO2)
Solar Park261548259
Net Metering Rooftop Solar53.5112258
Solar Irrigation50.55250118
Solar Roof Top (On and off Grid)57.54297140
Solar Mini and Nano Grid6.84119
Solar Charging Station0.28242902
Solar Drinking Water System0.0951511
Solar Home System263.692000973
Solar Street Light17.076330
Wind (On and off Grid)2.94019
Large Hydro (On-Grid)23050002000
Biogas to Electricity (Off and on Grid)1.39105
Table
Table 8. Periodic capacity statement of net metering [66].
Table 8. Periodic capacity statement of net metering [66].
YearInstalled Capacity (MW)
202215.34
202119.41
20204.54
201910.04
20183.82
20170.36
Total53.51
Table
Table 9. Statement of institutional net metering production capacity in Bangladesh [69].
Table 9. Statement of institutional net metering production capacity in Bangladesh [69].
Utility NameInstalled Capacity (MW)
BPDB16.194
BREB28.728
DPDC3.011
DESCO2.597
WZPDCL1.203
NESCO1.763
TOTAL53.496
Table
Table 10. Recent progress of institutional net metering capacity in Bangladesh [69].
Table 10. Recent progress of institutional net metering capacity in Bangladesh [69].
Utility NameOctober 2022 (MW)November 2022 (MW)December 2022 (MW)Progress in Three Months (kW)
BPDB16.10916.13616.16354
BREB27.88328.13328.716833
DPDC2.9462.9462.9460
DESCO2.5852.592.5894
WZPDCL1.1741.2031.20329
NESCO1.7631.7631.7630
Table
Table 11. Year-wise growth of population, GDP, and percentage of renewable energy share [70,71,72].
Table 11. Year-wise growth of population, GDP, and percentage of renewable energy share [70,71,72].
YearPopulation Density (per Sq. Km)Population Growth RateGDP (Billions of $)Per Capita% of GDP Growth% of Total Power Generation Capacity
20221156.841.08%460.75$28247.20%3.69%
20211144.481.16%416.26$25036.94%3.58%
20201131.401.15%373.90$22703.45%2.75%
20191118.531.12%351.24$21547.88%3.94%
20181106.141.17%321.38$19917.32%4.47%
20171093.371.26%293.75$18406.59%5.77%
20161079.791.24%265.24$16797.11%5.85%
20151066.581.20%195.08$12486.55%6.44%
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Munjer, M.A.; Hasan, M.Z.; Hossain, M.K.; Rahman, M.F. The Obstruction and Advancement in Sustainable Energy Sector to Achieve SDG in Bangladesh. Sustainability 2023, 15, 3913. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053913

AMA Style

Munjer MA, Hasan MZ, Hossain MK, Rahman MF. The Obstruction and Advancement in Sustainable Energy Sector to Achieve SDG in Bangladesh. Sustainability. 2023; 15(5):3913. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053913

Chicago/Turabian Style

Munjer, M. A., Md. Zahid Hasan, M. Khalid Hossain, and Md. Ferdous Rahman. 2023. "The Obstruction and Advancement in Sustainable Energy Sector to Achieve SDG in Bangladesh" Sustainability 15, no. 5: 3913. https://doi.org/10.3390/su15053913

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