Bangladesh sets 3.17-GW renewables goal for 2021

Bangladesh will aim to boost its installed renewables capacity to 3,168 MW by 2021 from just 176 MW at end-October as part of the newly unveiled governmental target for the sector, local media reported.

The share of renewables in the South Asian country’s power mix is to hit 5% by the end of December and then double in just six years.

Solar power will account for the biggest part of the total, as it is seen to reach 1,740 MW by 2021. In turn, wind power is estimated to grow to 1,370 MW, officials were quoted as saying. The government's Power Division also calls for the construction of biomass, biogas and mini-hydropower plants (HPP) of 47 MW, 7 MW and 4 MW, respectively.

As at the end of last month, Bangladesh sourced just 176 MW from renewables, including 150 MW of solar home systems, 16 MW of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) arrays, 614 kW of solar mini-grids and 1.6 MW of solar irrigation systems. Wind power stood at only 2 MW, while biogas and biomass were 5 MW and 1 MW, accordingly.

Roughly 1,055 MW of the planned capacity additions will come from public sector organisations, leaving 2,113 MW for the private sector, the reports said, citing an official Power Division document. About 224 MW of the total is scheduled to come online in 2015.

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