Prof. A. K. M Sadrul Islam
Head
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
Islamic University of Technology (IUT)
Gazipur, Bangladesh
Biography
Professor A. K. M Sadrul Islam did his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of
London, UK in 1988. At present he is the Head and Professor of Department of Mechanical and
Chemical Engineering of Islamic University of Technology (IUT), a subsidiary organ of OIC.
Before joining IUT he was the Professor and Head of Mechanical Engineering Department,
Bangladesh University of Technology (BUET). He is the member of different professional and
social organizations like, Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Society of
Mechanical Engineers, Asian Congress of Fluid Mechanics, Ibn Sina Trust, Bangladesh Islamic
Society, Forum of Engineers and Architects, etc. He is currently the Secretary General of
Bangladesh Society of Mechanical Engineers and past chairman of Mechanical Engineering
Division of Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh. He has published more than 180 papers in
reputed journals and conference proceedings and edited and contributed chapters in several
books.
DEVELOPMENT OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SECTOR IN
BANGLADESH: IS THE GOAL ACHIEVABLE?
A.K.M. Sadrul Islam and Md. Mustafizur Rahman
Department of Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
Islamic University of Technology
Board Bazar, Gazipur, Bangladesh
sadrul@iut-dhaka.edu
Abstract
Bangladesh is a small country with a huge population of 154.7 million (2013 data). Due to
increasing population, economic and industrial growth, and aspiration for better living standards,
the demand for energy is increasing day by day. Natural gas and oil are the main sources of
primary energy supply. In Bangladesh, electricity is mainly produced from natural gas, which is
accounted for 63% of the total installed electricity production (11,877 MW), followed by furnace
oil (21%) and diesel (8%). The unsatisfied demand of electricity is increasing alarmingly which
causes load shedding. Only 53% of the population has access to grid electricity. Areas that are
not connected to the national grid, mainly use stand-alone diesel generators for electrification
purpose. However, a large number of solar home systems are in operation in the grid remote
areas around the country. Combustion of fossil fuel releases greenhouse gases (GHGs) into the
atmosphere which is a big environmental concern worldwide. In Bangladesh, power sector is
responsible for producing 40% of the total CO2 emissions. The country already started to face
problems due to global warming. To save the environment and supply electricity to the mass
people who do not have access to grid electricity, it is very important to consider the alternative
renewable energy sources. Bangladesh government has a plan to generate 10% of the total
electricity from renewable resources (e.g. solar, wind, biomass, hydro, etc.) by 2020.The keynote
speech will cover the whole power sector of Bangladesh, especially the renewable energy
projects such as solar home system, solar irrigation, electricity from biogas and biomass, wind
energy, hydro, mini and micro-grids, etc.
To understand the environmental footprint of power generation from different fuel sources, a
study has been conducted.
Keywords: Power generation, Renewable energy, Carbon footprint