Stressing the importance of clean energy, speakers during an event have called for the adoption of necessary measures to ensure clean energy and address Bangladesh's growing power crisis.

With the increasing global demand for energy, they emphasised that renewable sources are the only viable alternative to meet future energy needs.

According to the speakers, utilising solar and wind power systems could reduce the cost of meeting the country’s energy requirements by up to 80%.

The remarks were made during a discussion titled ‘Importance of Formulating a National Renewable Energy Roadmap for Expanding Just and Clean Energy Transformation Process.’

The event was jointly organised by Coastal Development Partner (CDP) and 10 other NGOs at the Development Wheel (DEW) office in Dhaka on Monday.

The speakers highlighted that clean energy could help reduce the negative effects of climate change, including greenhouse gas emissions and air and water pollution while contributing to economic progress.

They noted that it is crucial to utilize alternative energy sources for ensuring long-term energy security and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

However, the country faces challenges such as a lack of skilled manpower and necessary technological infrastructure for renewable energy production.

They pointed out that Bangladesh’s Power System Master Plan 2016 failed to prioritise local renewable energy assets.

Currently, Bangladesh has only a few solar production institutions, with a low production capacity of 100 megawatt modules per year.

Private investors are reluctant to invest in renewable energy projects due to inadequate government incentives, while banks are mostly interested in large government-subsidized solar projects.

The speakers also mentioned that Bangladesh has approximately 6,250 square kilometres of land (excluding agricultural and forest land) where large solar farms could generate 156 gigawatts of solar power, enough to meet the energy needs of the entire country.

They called for investment in clean energy instead of fossil fuels, emphasizing that renewable energy is both environmentally friendly and essential for a sustainable future.

The speakers stressed the need for Bangladesh to develop a national renewable energy roadmap, with the participation of relevant stakeholders, to achieve the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and SDGs.

They also noted that renewable energy development would stimulate the energy industry and create job opportunities for the population.

To make this transition successful, the speakers called for raising mass awareness about renewable energy and urged policymakers to prioritize this issue for the benefit of the public.

The event was chaired by Shah Abdus Salam, executive director of Development Wheel (DEW), and moderated by Adourd Aleo Madhu, senior programme manager of the CDP.