80% power demand of country can be met using renewable energy: expert

Around 80 percent of the country's demand of electricity could be addressed by using renewable energy including solar and wind power systems, according to an expert.

"Germany and the Latin American countries including Cuba are now planning to generate 80 percent of their power by setting up renewable energy systems and we should consider these methods to address our ongoing power crisis," said Dr Sajed Kamal, a scientist and teacher of Brandeis University, Massachusetts in USA.

He was speaking at a seminar, titled ?Solar Energy Resource: Bangladesh?s Un-utilizing Energy Storehouse?, at Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) in the city on Friday.

Bangladesh Poribesh Andolan (BAPA) organized the seminar, which was chaired by former adviser of the caretaker government and BAPA vice-president Advocate Sultana Kamal.

Prof Dr Saiful Haque and Prof MM Akash of Dhaka University, and Engr Dr Khursedul Islam also spoke at the seminar.

Addressing the seminar as keynote speaker, Dr Sajed Kamal in a power point presentation displayed the technology used by the western countries for generating power from renewable sources.

He said the entire world is now giving attention to generate power from renewable sources. ?It is high time for us to make immediate plans to generate power from renewable sources.?

He added: ?Bangladesh has a great potential. We?ve huge solar and wind energy, but we never consider using these sources of energy to address our power demand.?

Mentioning the reason for global warming, Dr Sajed Kamal said the global temperature has been rising gradually due to the use fossil energy all over the world.

He suggested using renewable energy including solar and wind power to permanently address the country?s power crisis and also contribute to reducing global warming.

The expatriate scientist urged the government to take a long-term plan to set up renewable energy system in the country.

Prof. Saiful Haque said people think that the solar system is very costly, but they will be able to meet their power demand permanently by using solar panel.