Electricity in Bangladesh in 2024
As of 2024, electricity consumption in Bangladesh is predominantly reliant on fossil fuels, with almost all of it, about 90%, originating from such sources. Gas alone accounts for more than half of the total electricity generation at around 57%, while coal contributes close to a fifth at nearly 19%. Additionally, net imports make up almost 8% of the electricity supply. In stark contrast, low-carbon energy sources contribute a meager portion, with solar energy accounting for only over 1% of the total electricity generation and the rest is a negligible mix of other low-carbon sources. This heavy dependence on fossil fuels not only impacts the environment negatively through increased emissions and pollution but also highlights a significant opportunity for the country to shift towards more sustainable energy practices.
Suggestions
To increase its proportion of low-carbon electricity generation, Bangladesh can look to the strategies employed by several countries. For instance, France and Slovakia have successfully harnessed nuclear energy, contributing 68% and 62% to their electricity generation, respectively. This serves as a testament to the potential of nuclear power in achieving a substantial low-carbon mix. In the realm of solar energy, Lebanon demonstrates that solar can power more than 30% of electricity needs, suggesting that Bangladesh could similarly exploit its abundant sunlight. Furthermore, countries like Denmark and Uruguay have capitalized on their windy conditions to generate over a quarter of their electricity from wind. Learning from these examples, Bangladesh could focus on investing in nuclear plants, expanding solar farms, and exploring its own wind potential, which could dramatically reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
History
The history of low-carbon electricity generation in Bangladesh has primarily revolved around modest contributions from hydroelectric power. Initial efforts in the 1980s, marked by fluctuating changes, showed little consistent growth. The early 1990s also mirrored this inconsistency, with minor increases followed by declines. However, sporadic attempts in the early 21st century, including a noticeable increase in 2010, attempted to revitalize hydroelectric generation. A significant development occurred in 2022 when the country saw a rise in solar electricity generation, indicating a positive direction with steady increases in subsequent years. By 2024, both hydro and solar showed some improvement, though still not enough to make a substantial impact on the overall energy mix. This history underscores the urgent need for Bangladesh to accelerate its transition towards more robust low-carbon energy solutions like nuclear, aligning with global examples to reduce its fossil fuel dependency.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.