In November 2023, approval from the federal government was granted for Denmark’s funding plan of $1.3 billion, aimed toward establishing Bangladesh’s inaugural offshore 500MW wind vitality initiative. This milestone permits the challenge to progress to a radical feasibility research, representing a considerable development in Bangladesh’s shift in direction of sustainable vitality. The inexperienced gentle adopted the submission of a overseas direct funding proposal in July of the identical 12 months by Copenhagen Infrastructure Companions (CIP) and Copenhagen Offshore Companions (COP), in collaboration with Bangladesh’s influential energy entity, Summit Group.
This June, Bangladesh and Denmark endorsed a collaborative technique for the upcoming 5 years throughout the framework of the “2022 Sustainable and Inexperienced Framework Engagement.” In a current go to to Dhaka, Danish Minister for Improvement Cooperation and World Local weather Coverage, Dan Jørgensen, affirmed a dedication to a cooperative enterprise targeted on inexperienced and clear applied sciences, in addition to funding for sustainable improvement.
Upon turning into operational, the 500MW wind vitality initiative will improve Bangladesh’s inexperienced vitality infrastructure by immediately supplying electrical energy to houses and companies by means of an onshore substation, contributing to the nationwide grid. Senior Secretary of the Energy Division, Habibur Rahman, disclosed on November 4, 2023, to The Enterprise Commonplace that approval has been granted to the consortium for an in-depth feasibility research. The outcomes of this research will information the willpower of subsequent actions. This offshore wind challenge located in Cox’s Bazar presents a particular alternative for Bangladesh to optimize the utilization of its coastal assets, fostering the development of the blue financial system.
The Institute for Vitality Economics and Monetary Evaluation (IEEFA) anticipates a yearly funding requirement of $1.7 billion for the inexperienced transition. Insiders are optimistic that this multibillion-dollar initiative has the potential to provoke a contemporary inflow of each overseas and home investments, propelling Bangladesh towards a future marked by local weather prosperity. Based on Md Mozammel Hossain, managing director of Summit Energy Restricted, upon its implementation, this pioneering offshore wind challenge will stand because the inaugural endeavor of its form in Bangladesh—and doubtlessly throughout South Asia. Hossain means that this initiative will facilitate a switch of expertise, expediting the educational curve for an rising trade and diminishing technological limitations for subsequent tasks.
He talked about that they acquired approval from the authorities in October. Concerning the length and price of the research, he defined that such endeavors require a substantial period of time, roughly two to a few years, on condition that the research should be carried out at sea. He emphasised that the consortium will bear the bills related to the research.
Regarding Summit’s involvement within the challenge, he clarified that the small print haven’t been finalized but. Mr. Mozammel highlighted that the consortium had beforehand carried out a preliminary research, and primarily based on these preliminary findings, they determined to proceed with a extra detailed and complete research.
The preliminary outcomes point out the potential creation of quite a few jobs, each direct and oblique, in the course of the development section, alongside the prospect of building a number of high-skilled everlasting positions for the challenge’s 30-year operational interval.
On condition that the viability of wind vitality is constrained to coastal areas, offshore islands, riversides, and different open inland areas with strong wind patterns, the Energy Division and the Bangladesh Energy Improvement Board have recognized 22 potential websites for Wind Useful resource Mapping in Bangladesh. Plans are underway to put in wind monitoring stations at these areas to conduct a radical Wind Useful resource Evaluation.
The Bangladesh Energy Improvement Board (BPDB) is strategically increasing onshore wind energy crops alongside the nation’s shoreline to harness the potential of wind vitality in coastal areas, offshore islands, riversides, and different inland open areas characterised by sturdy wind regimes. Applied tasks embody a grid-connected Wind Plant with a 900 KW capability on the Muhuri Dam space in Sonagazi, Feni, and a 1000 KW Wind Battery Hybrid Energy Plant on Kutubdia Island accomplished in 2008, that includes 50 Wind Generators with a 20 kW capability every. Ongoing efforts contain repairing the prevailing 900 KW grid-connected Wind Energy Venture at Muhuri Dam and sustaining the Kutubdia 1000 KW Wind Battery Hybrid Energy Venture. Steps have been taken to put in a 15 MW Wind Energy Plant in coastal areas following a one-year Wind Sources Evaluation in numerous areas, with ongoing wind mapping actions carried out by Regen Powertech Ltd. of India. Set up of Wind Monitoring Stations is underway at a number of areas underneath a USAID TA challenge. Future tasks in planning embody a 50-200 MW Wind Energy Venture at Parky Seashore in Anawara, Chittagong, on an Impartial Energy Producer (IPP) foundation. The Energy Division and BPDB have recognized 22 potential websites for Wind Useful resource Mapping, with plans to put in wind monitoring stations for complete Wind Useful resource Evaluation (WRA). BPDB additionally envisions increasing onshore Wind Energy Vegetation alongside the shoreline of coastal areas in Bangladesh. These initiatives replicate Bangladesh’s dedication to fostering a diversified and environmentally pleasant vitality portfolio.
As of now, Bangladesh possesses an electrical energy era capability of 25,951 MW, and the federal government has set a goal to derive 10% of its electrical energy from renewable sources, resembling photo voltaic, hydro, and wind, by the 12 months 2025. Presently, solely about 2% of the nation’s electrical energy era capability comes from renewable sources. Assembly the Sustainable Improvement Objectives (SDGs) necessitates a rise to a minimum of 12% of electrical energy generated from these sustainable sources. The introduction of the Danish initiative will play a pivotal function in enhancing the diversification of Bangladesh’s vitality sector, significantly within the realm of wind energy tasks.
Denmark’s inexperienced funding proposal not solely symbolizes a big step in Bangladesh’s transition to sustainable vitality but in addition units a precedent for worldwide collaboration in fostering inexperienced applied sciences. Because the feasibility research progresses, the nation anticipates unlocking the complete potential of its coastal assets, ushering in a brand new period of financial development, environmental stewardship, and technological innovation. The offshore wind vitality challenge stands as a testomony to the collective dedication in direction of a climate-resilient and affluent future for Bangladesh.