Electricity in Bangladesh in 2024/2025
In 2024, Bangladesh's electricity consumption is predominantly dependent on fossil fuels, with a staggering 90% share. Natural gas contributes to more than half of this mix, while coal supplies nearly a fifth. The role of net imports, which also fall under the fossil category, covers a smaller segment, accounting for about 8% of the total electricity usage. On the other hand, low-carbon, or clean energy sources, play a negligible role at just under 2%. Within this segment, solar power, while making a start, contributes just over 1%. The data reflects a heavy dependence on fossil-based energy sources, emphasizing a need to transition towards more sustainable and environment-friendly electricity generation to combat climate change and air pollution.
Is Electricity Growing in Bangladesh?
Electricity consumption in Bangladesh is on the rise. In 2024, each person consumed around 715 kWh, compared to 674 kWh in 2023, marking an increase of 41 kWh per person. Similarly, low-carbon electricity generation saw a rise, with 13 kWh per person, up from 10 kWh in the previous year, showcasing a growth of 3 kWh per person. This increase, although modest, is an important step in the right direction toward a cleaner energy profile. However, to keep pace with future demands and to promote a more sustainable energy mix, it is important that Bangladesh significantly boosts its investment in low-carbon technologies like solar and nuclear energy.
Suggestions
Bangladesh can learn from successful global regions that have effectively implemented low-carbon technologies. France, with a significant reliance on nuclear energy generating 69% of its electricity, exemplifies how nuclear energy can dominate an electricity mix. Similarly, countries and states like Slovakia and New Hampshire show the strength of nuclear energy, while regions such as Denmark and Iowa showcase the potential of wind energy. Solar power, as exemplified by countries like Greece and Cyprus, is another promising avenue for Bangladesh to explore. By investing in these clean technologies, Bangladesh can diversify its energy portfolio and move towards a sustainable future.
History
Looking back on its low-carbon journey, Bangladesh's history with hydroelectric power has seen multiple phases of fluctuation. The early years witnessed modest growth, with periods of decline particularly in the late 1980s and mid-2000s. Recently, there has been an uptick in solar energy, reflecting increased investments and initiatives in this domain since 2022. Hydro saw a slight rebirth with small increases in the last couple of years. However, to achieve substantial growth in low-carbon electricity generation, the country must aggressively pursue avenues in solar and nuclear energy to provide consistent and reliable power supply while reducing its carbon footprint.
Electrification
We estimate the degree of electrification by comparing electricity and total energy emissions. More about methodology.