Bangladesh gov't approves first renewable energy policy

Dec 3, 2008 - Xinhua

The Bangladesh government Wednesday approved its first renewable energy policy, encouraging investment in this sector to generate electricity from renewable sources to meet an ever-growing demand, private news agency UNB reported.

Under the Renewable Energy Policy 2008, an independent institution would be formed for development of the energy sector with government-private investment and tax preferential measures will be adopted for companies invest in the sector.

The main renewable energy sources are solar energy, wind energy, biomass, biogas and hydropower.

It has been predicted that 5 percent demand for electricity would be met by 2015 through utilizing renewable energy while 10 percent demand by the year 2020.

Currently, the renewable energy contributes less than 1.0 percent of the country's total electricity generation of around 3, 500 MW against the estimated demand for over 5,000 MW.