2023 SDG Policy Challenge Empowering a Sustainable Bangladesh The Imperative Shift towards Sustainable Power Generation in Bangladesh Bangladesh is making significant progress in its development, making sustainable power generation a crucial requirement. For energy security, fuel mix plays a vital role. Bangladesh is largely dependent on natural gas for power generation of which reserve is ceasing. Future power generation plan is based on coal and furnace oil. But for sustainability and environment friendliness in the long run, use of renewable energy is nothing but a must. The adoption of the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and in particular Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG 7) has led to a global consensus that the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix need to be substantially increased. Keeping global temperature rise below 2°C as per the Paris Agreement also calls for increasing the share of renewable energy in the energy mix, as renewable energy emits no greenhouse gas on a net basis. Achieving these goals have accelerated the implementation of utilization of renewable energy to a great extent. Bangladesh is intending to produce at least 10% of total power generation from renewable energy, as per the proclamation of the Power System Master Plan (PSMP) 2016. Bangladesh is producing only 2.85% of total electricity from renewable sources of which hydro and solar occupies the major portion. SREDA targets to generate 10% of power (that is about 2000 MW) from renewable sources within 2020 but in contrast to current pandemic situation this claim seems now merely a dream according to the available data. Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) is looking forward to gradual increase in using renewable resources for which the government of Bangladesh has taken initiatives to ensure substantial use of renewable technology. It had anticipated to accomplish around 2177 MW from renewable technology within 2021. The Renewable Energy Policy of Bangladesh mandated sourcing of 10% electricity from renewables by 2020. In reality, Bangladesh is heavily reliant on fossil fuel-based power plants with a little contribution from renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels are going to eventually end globally one day, but the solar energy, the wind energy, and the sea will remain so long as Earth exists. The sunlight striking the earth's surface in just one hour delivers enough energy to meet the global energy need for an entire year. Hence, solar energy is by far the largest energy source on Earth. Similarly, biomass, derived from organic materials like plants and waste, offers a sustainable energy source as it can be continually replenished through natural processes. At the same time the earth's surface is surrounded by unlimited wind. So, the sources of renewable energy are beyond the end. But unfortunately, deployment of renewable energy in Bangladesh is being hampered due to geographical reasons and the mindset of the people. The Challenge Draw up a policy brief to formulate and implement a sustainable renewable energy friendly energy policy in any locality (division, district, upazila or union) within Bangladesh, overcoming all the technical as well as non-technical challenges using one specific source of renewable energy from the list below. The brief should successfully fulfill the three criteria of sustainability; people, planet and profit. Choose any one form of renewable energy for preparing your policy brief: Solar Energy Wind Energy Biomass Energy Solar Energy Realistically, there are a number of reasons that are restricting expected growth of utility scale power. One of the major challenges is the difficulty of acquiring land. As per the government rule, no agricultural land can be used for solar power projects. Bangladesh is a densely populated fertile agricultural land and non-agricultural unused land is not easily available. A 100 MW solar park for example would require about 300 acres of land. It is expected that the efficiency of the solar panel will increase in future through new technological advances thus requiring lesser area for generating per unit of power. But until that happens, acquiring land will be a major problem for rapid expansion of utility-scale solar power in Bangladesh. Another drawback in developing utility-scale solar power in Bangladesh is the insufficient governmental incentive. The companies which are engaged in negotiations and implementation of solar parks opine that the solar industry in Bangladesh is still in an infant stage and requires incentives from the local authorities. A major point in this is fixing the tariff of the produced power. The organizations engaged in building solar power plants in Bangladesh opine that unless incentive in solar power tariff is given, their effort to develop solar industry would not be economically feasible. It appears that the companies consider the cost per unit tariff offered by the government too low a price to build a solar plant and make a profit. Ideally, the government negotiators should be offering tariffs which are biased towards the people and not towards the companies. However, the solar power industry in Bangladesh is yet to stand on its feet and at this initial stage it needs incentive to grow to a reasonable strength. Tariff incentive is perhaps a vital area which makes a company decide its future in Bangladesh. Another problem regarding solar and wind is the intermittency problem, since the sun doesn't shine at night and the wind doesn't blow all the time. So, it will be uphill to manage the uninterrupted electricity. Wind Energy Bangladesh belongs to moderate to low wind regime. So, scope of massive expansion of onshore wind is limited in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) implemented a pilot project in 2005, for the first time in Bangladesh, to generate electricity from wind energy at Muhuri Dam area in Feni district with an installed capacity of 0.9 MW. However, any utility-scale commercial wind power plant is yet to be installed in the country. Wind power must still compete with conventional generation sources on a cost basis. Even though the cost of wind power has decreased dramatically in the past several decades, wind projects must be able to compete economically with the lowest-cost source of electricity, and some locations may not be windy enough to be cost competitive. Good land-based wind sites are often located in remote locations, far from cities where the electricity is needed. Transmission lines must be built to bring the electricity from the wind farm to the city. However, building just a few transmission lines could significantly reduce the costs of expanding wind energy. Wind resource development might not be the most profitable use of the land. Land suitable for windturbine installation must compete with alternative uses for the land, which might be more highly valued than electricity generation. Wind energy in Bangladesh holds promise, particularly in coastal regions with strong winds. Advancements in wind turbine technology, reduced greenhouse gas emissions, energy diversification, and government initiatives to promote renewables all contribute to its prospects. While wind energy is not as developed as other renewable sources, it has the potential to play a more significant role in the country's sustainable energy future. Biomass Energy Biomass energy in Bangladesh is a critical component of the country's renewable energy landscape, primarily derived from organic materials like agricultural residues, animal waste, and biodegradable waste. There are noteworthy prospects for biomass energy production in the country. As Bangladesh strives to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and address environmental concerns, the sustainable and abundant nature of biomass resources presents an opportunity for decentralized energy production, particularly in rural areas. While offering substantial prospects for sustainable energy production, the utilization of biomass energy faces a set of unique challenges. Traditional and inefficient biomass burning practices, especially in rural areas, not only result in energy wastage but also contribute to indoor air pollution, particularly affecting women and children. Moreover, the irregular supply and seasonal availability of biomass resources pose challenges for consistent energy generation. Overcoming these challenges and promoting sustainable biomass energy requires a combination of policy support, technological advancements, and careful resource management, all aimed at enhancing rural energy access, economic viability, and environmental sustainability in Bangladesh. To promote biomass energy, the government of Bangladesh has implemented several policies and initiatives. The government is working to enhance the efficiency of biomass energy systems through research and development. With ongoing policy support and technological advancements, biomass energy is poised to play a more substantial role in Bangladesh's renewable energy mix, contributing to both energy security and environmental sustainability. Design Address the policy brief to you local govenrment of your chosen locality (division, district, upazila or union) within Bangladesh Outline, within a curated framework, how you will use specific resources and one energy source to accomplish your goal of improving renewable energy access & reliability for Bangladesh. Focus on development of renewable energy resources within Bangladesh and avoid excessive energy resource imports. Consider existing and emerging technologies Consider public health implications, cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and affordability Implementation Considering the policies already in place regarding your chosen source of renewable energy, your policy brief should improve on the specific implementation failures of the current policies. This process should clearly differentiate short term and long term implementation strategies, mandates and goals. Develop a practical timeline for the implementation based on factual, realworld data. Explain how the government will implement your proposal, taking into account the locality you will select. Evaluate how your plan in the locality will influence Bangladesh’s public health advantages, and environmental enhancements. Financial Impact Propose a budget that includes initial investment and ongoing maintenance costs over 15 years. Identify potential lenders/investors (may be multiple), the amount they will provide to Bangladesh, and the timeline for acquiring and spending raised capital. Environmental Impact Indicate if the proposed solution is sustainable in the long term and if it contributes to building a cleaner future for both the country and its people. Highlight the possible global impact from a change in renewable energy policy in your chosen locality within Bangladesh Address the merit of the solution proposed, emphasizing solutions that are as environmentally sound as possible. Social Impact Examine how society responds to the proposed solution and what cultural, financial, and moral changes various communities will undergo once the solution is implemented. Describe the direct influence the energy sector has on the population and what factors in each scenario can help identify how society responds to changes in energy and economy (in urban and rural areas). You are encouraged to think creatively and go beyond the scope of these factors for organization and ideation of your solutions - seek creative, yet actionable solutions that could be deployed in real-world settings. Your policy brief should focus on showcasing key background information, critical data, alternatives considered, and proposed solutions. Present your solution concisely but ensure that there is sufficient evidence backing your argument. Support your claims with references to publications or with detailed calculations. Scoring Design (35 points) Are improvements to renewable energy access & reliability described? Are energy imports avoided to the extent possible? Are public health, cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and affordability addressed? Implementation and Impact (35 points) Is there a timeline for implementation, based on real-world data? Are the steps the locality government would take to execute the plan clearly described? Are the plan’s impacts to the economy, public health, and the environment fully considered? Are the environmental and social factors clearly described in the strategy? Funding (30 points) Is the plan to access funding for the project feasible? Is the budget for the described project under the maximum amount for that country? Does the plan include how the money from lenders will be used and when it will be repaid (if applicable)? Do the qualitative and quantitative metrics used realistically describe the impacts of the project? Late submission (-10 points) Significant plagiarism detected (disqualified) Citations (as needed) General Considerations Creativity Originality Practicality Format of Draft Policy Brief 1. Policy Title 2. An Abstract 3. Statement of Problem 4. Policy Statement - A detailed policy statement which may answer the following questions: a. Who is the primary audience required to follow the policy? b. What are the major conditions and restrictions? c. What are the details on the Applicability and Inapplicability of the policy? d. What are the special situations or exclusions, if any, where the policy shall not apply? 5. Design, implementation, impact and funding strategies 6. Cost-benefit Analysis 7. Concluding Remarks Guidelines WORD LIMIT: 1500 Font: Times New Roman, Font Size: 12 Line Spacing: 1.5 for main body and 1 for footnotes Participant-made diagrams, graphs, tables, and flowcharts are allowed. All sources should be clearly cited. The similarity is allowed up to a maximum of 10%. Citation Style: Participants are required to follow APA Citation Style. File format must be only in .doc/.docx Rename your file submission to “Round1_teamname” i.e. “Round1_Gatekeepers” Submission must be made in the submission form here: https://forms.gle/HdZ9xVYCeMF2RAc99 Round 1 Submission Deadline: 11:59 PM of Tuesday, 24 October 2023.
