Low Carbon Energy for Development :
an initiative by LGED, Bangladesh
Md. Wahidur Rahman
Chief Engineer, LGED
Presentation Layout
 LGED – Mission, Vision and Functions
 RE resources in Bangladesh
 Major objectives of RE policy of Bangladesh
 Environmental promotion campaign by LGED
 History of RE interventions by LGED
 Prospect of RE project development
 Key outcomes & Impacts of RE projects
 Challenges of RE project development
 Conclusions
Introduction to LGED
 LGED is one of the largest public sector
organizations in Bangladesh entrusted for
planning and implementation of local level
rural urban and small scale water resources
infrastructure development programs.
 Among the Government Departments,
LGED is the leading one who demonstrates
Renewable Energy Technology (RET).
Mission Statement of LGED
Development and management of local
infrastructure for increasing farm/non-farm
production, generating employment,
improving socio economic condition,
promoting local governance, reducing poverty
and acting as agent of change at the local
level.
Vision of LGED
To remain professionally competent, efficient and
effective for performing the interrelated and
complementary functions of:
 Developing, maintaining and managing transport,
trading and small scale water resources
infrastructure by ensuring community participation
and taking care of environmental and social
issues;
 Providing technical and institutional support to
strengthen the LGIs and serving local communities
and other stakeholders.
HRD
program
for LGED,
LGIs and
other
Stakeholders
Develop
planning
maps,
database,
technical
spec. and
manuals
Rural,
urban & water
sector
Infrastructure
Development
Functions
of
LGED
RET
Demonstration
&
environment
friendly
development
Technical
supports
to Zilla,
Upazila &
Union
Parishad
Rural,
Urban & water
sector
Infrastructure
Maintenance
Technical
supports
to urban
LGIs
Technical
assistance
to other
Ministries
RE Resources in Bangladesh
 Biomass/biogas : Very effective for cooking; yet to
be proven for wide scale power generation
 Solar : Significant
 Wind : Comprehensive wind resource assessment
study is needed for wind power generation
 Hydro : Very limited with some prospects of
micro-hydro in the south-eastern part of
Bangladesh
Major Objectives of RE Policy
 Developing RE to meet 5% of the total power




demand by 2015 and 10% by 2020
Harness and dissemination of RET in rural, semiurban and urban areas.
Encourage and facilitate both public and private
sector investment in RE projects.
Promote appropriate, efficient and environment
friendly use of RE.
Promote development of local technology in the
field of RE.
History of RE intervention by LGED
 LGED is the pioneer of development of bio-gas plant in





mid 1980’s (around 2000 plants of different capacity are
installed till 2011)
Solar Electrification in Cyclone shelters in 1990’s.
RET demonstration under Sustainable Rural Energy
( SRE) Project (1998- 2007 )
Promoted 10 kw Micro Hydro Unit (2006)
Developed low cost water pumping windmill (1999)
Initiatives of Wind Energy Resource Mapping ( 20002002)
Environmental promotion campaign
by LGED
 Renewable Energy Technology demonstration
 Improved Urban sanitation services
 Roadside tree plantation
 Waste Management of semi-urban centers
 Exhibition on environmental awareness
 Eco-village development (Amgram, Modhutila)
 Integration of SPV system at newly built
buildings/urban infrastructures.
Forest residues
Animal dung
Biomass resources
Agricultural
residues
Poultry waste
Garbage
Biomass Resources
Municipal and
industrial solid
wastes
Water hyacinth
Sugarcane
bagasse
Jatropha Curcas (JC)
trees for bio-fuel
production
Facilitating Biodiversity
Research works
Bus terminal
Market
Electrification
Solar
Home
Lighting
System
Tribal community
development
IT
Development
SPV
Pumping
Health Care
Solar PV Application under LGED
Prospect of RE project by LGED
 Slaughter house and municipal waste based biogas
plant for cooking (on going) (funded by giz)
 Solar micro-utility for promoting rural energy
(electrification of rural community health clinic)
 Solar electrification at Off-Grid Primary School-cumCyclone Shelter, UP complex Bhaban (proposed)
 Promotion of RE in the urban & semi-urban areas
( under CRDP)
 Solar water pumping for irrigation can replace
conventional water pump
 Solar street light in rural roads.
Key outcomes of RE Projects
 Through RET demonstration by LGED, root level
stakeholders ( NGO, CBO, Individuals) were
encouraged in implementing RET’s at rural and
off-gird areas .
 LGED initiatives regarding RE are being replicated
by grassroots level stakeholders
 Capacity development of field level technicians in
the field of RE
 LGED’s environmental campaign (Tree plantation,
Sanitation, garbage disposal) can be considered as
an approach to CDM
Impact of RET on rural livelihood
 Solar electricity replaced fossil fuel based lights
at rural area and reduced environment
pollution
 Improves quality of lives through increased
working hour and income generation after
dusk
 Encourage and facilitate mass education.
Access to solar powered electronic media
provides entertainment, distant education
Impact of RET on rural livelihood .......
 The solar powered remote rural health clinic
provides excellent medical services to the
rural poor.
 Solar electrification at rural market
increased merchandizing hours and
contributing development of rural economy
Challenges of RE project development
 Technological
 Economical
 Sociological
 Management
Technological Challenges
 Sustainability: Technology adopted should be
sustainable ; e.g. sometimes solar cells, LED etc.
show rapid degradation in output.
 In case of Solar PV energy storage/battery is a
major stumbling block
Technological Challenges….
 Location dependence
Performance degradation due to dust
collection on Solar PV panels. Humidity and
temperature can also cause significant
problem to the exposed connections – as
frequently observed in Bangladesh.
Economic Challenges
 RET is very expensive. People of a country
like Bangladesh can hardly afford this
technology.
 Micro-credit in Solar PV Home Systems is a
solution in Bangladesh. But in case of
industrial and commercial application,
economic viability is important.
Economic Challenges ......
 Due to huge overhead cost, Building
Integrated PV system is not yet
popularized.
 Lack of FDI for rural mini-grid PV system.
 For a large scale PV plant, land is a major
concern in a country like Bangladesh it
raises the question of loss of agricultural
lands.
Sociological Challenges
 Sociological
factors
influence
the
acceptability of RET. As for example, some
times people tend to dislike usage of
biogas for cooking.
 Degree of reliability: If the confidence of
people is dented once due to lack of
reliability, it is very difficult to regain it.
 Lack of Community Motivation
Management Challenges
This aspect is often ignored in RE projects
resulting in ultimate failure.
 Proper importance should be given to economic
viability and sustainability during the planning
stage
 An effective management system should be
introduced for proper O & M.
 Poor management is the main cause of failure of
small scale RE systems
Conclusions
 Bangladesh has a good potential of bio-energy
resources for power generation.
 The agricultural residues and wastes, animal and
poultry waste, industrial waste, municipal waste,
kitchen waste and market waste can be better used
for energy production.
 Harnessing RE in remote off-grid and high energy
demand areas can be alternative options to promote
better livelihood.
 Local
resource
based
RE
technology
implementation can be sustainable and low carbon
energy option.