FROM PAGE B1
Energy Development Authority (SREDA) will introduce a renewable purchase obligation—a regulatory mandate requiring all power utilities (government agencies involved in power production, transmission, and distribution), as well as other selected entities or consumers, to purchase a certain percentage of power from renewable sources.
A Renewable Energy Certificate will also be introduced. This will be a tradable certificate representing the environmental attributes of one megawatt-hour (MWh) of electricity generated from a renewable energy source.
The policy allows SREDA to act as a nodal agency under the Power Division, responsible for coordinating, managing, and overseeing all grid-connected and off-grid renewable projects.
“SREDA shall develop the renewable energy roadmap or implementation plan within a time frame based on this policy,” it reads, adding that SREDA shall encourage and promote human resource development and local production of renewable energy equipment, and facilitate and monitor the quality of such equipment.
The agency will initiate the establishment of a national quality control and research laboratory for renewable energy equipment and infrastructure. Additionally, the policy states that equipment can also be tested in any accredited laboratory recognized by the Bangladesh Accreditation Board or in local laboratories enlisted by SREDA.
The policy aims to reduce electricity prices and government subsidies; harness the potential of renewable energy resources and promote related technologies; encourage local manufacturing of renewable energy equipment; and scale up renewable capacity to ensure energy security and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
The policy defines renewable energy as “energy generated from natural resources that are constantly replenished, such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, waves, geothermal heat, and other similar sources.”
Other sources include geothermal energy, tidal energy, river currents, wave energy, green hydrogen, green bio-fuel, biomass, and waste-to-energy. It introduces 13 types of solar-based technology, including solar street lights, home systems, drinking water systems, rooftop solar, floating solar, and EV charging stations.
Coexistence of agriculture with renewable energy projects, such as agri-voltaic systems, will be encouraged to ensure food security alongside energy security. The policy adds that the government may allocate land—such as fallow land, government khas land, char areas, riversides, seashores, and hilly terrains—for renewable energy project development.
“Land having no agricultural value or other co-benefits will be prioritized in the land allotment process… Various organisations like Bangladesh Railway, Roads and Highways Department, Bangladesh Bridge Authority, BWDB, BIWTA, EPZ, EZ, BSCIC, etc., own large amounts of unused land or open spaces that can be effectively utilized for the development of renewable energy projects.”