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Renewable energy platform launched

The association signs up 49 members

Star Business Report
A platform for renewable energy products businesses, Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA), was launched in Dhaka yesterday.
Tawfiq-E-Elahi Chowdhury, energy adviser to the prime minister, inaugurated the association at Ruposhi Bangla Hotel in Dhaka.
BSREA's aim is to promote renewable energy in Bangladesh and keep track of the fast growing renewable energy industry around the world, said Dipal C Barua, president of the new body.
“Our goal is to make Bangladesh is a solar energy-rich nation, which can be achieved when 51 percent or more of the population utilises solar power," he said.
Barua, chairman of Bright Green Energy Foundation, said fossil fuels are diminishing by the day, and solar energy is a complementary approach to lowering the consumption of fossil fuels.
"Switching to this method is much more beneficial, as the country's electricity supply is always lagging behind demand," he said.
The 49-member association will also work to educate people about solar energy, which will help the nation reduce the consumption of electricity.
BSREA will also work for standardisation and quality control of all the renewable energy products and services being sold in Bangladesh, leaders of the association said. Bangladesh is the highest user of solar home systems (SHS). As of March, 14 lakh SHSs have been installed in the country, with electricity generation of up to 65 megawatts, according to Infrastructure Development Company Ltd.
This is part of the government's plan to generate 500 megawatts or 5 percent of the total electricity requirement from renewable energy sources by 2015 and 10 percent by 2020.
The energy adviser said they are working to formulate the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Agency (SREDA) to better regulate the growing sector.
He urged the association leaders
to find more avenues where renewable energy could be installed. "The government will extend all necessarysupport."
During his presentation, Munawar Misbah Moin, senior vice president of BSREA, said irrigation consumes over 1,600 megawatts of electricity a day and a huge amount of diesel to run 14.87 lakh diesel pumps and 2.68 lakh electric pumps.
"The significance of irrigation calls for an alternative solution. Solar energy alone can save up to $100 million ($10 crore) in diesel subsidy," he said.
The managing director of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Ltd said the use of roof space in metropolitans offers an excellent opportunity for
rooftop SHSs, which can generate electricity in the range ofgigawatts.
"Standardisation and quality control of the existing rooftop policy can escalate the installation of solar systems in urban areas."
Syed Yusuf Hossain, chairman of Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission, calls for a strategic plan to promote renewable energy.
“Time is running out quickly. A taskforce might be set up to look into the issue.”
He urged the central bank to come forward in a major way to facilitate the financing of renewable energyproducts.
About 53 percent of the entire population has access to electricity, accord-ingto Power Development Board.