Affordable Hybrid Energy Solutions for the Least Developed Countries: The example of Bangladesh
Makhzumul Islam Mahdi
Abstract
Bangladesh is a least developed country exposed to relentless pressures to demand electricity, which becomes a challenge to contain carbon emissions and dependency on fuel imports. Complete reliance on renewable energy is not possible due to the investment, land, and unsteady generation rates of solar and wind. On the other hand, environmental and economic damages of reliance on traditional coals and natural gas systems is considerable. This paper suggests a balanced hybrid energy approach which incorporates small to mid-scale nuclear power, biofuels derived from agricultural residue, along with some selective renewable energy systems with limited fossil fuel back. The aim is to focus on the construction of a reliable and energy secure low-cost low-carbon energy mix. Estimating the trade-off on the costs of carbon emissions, a combination of data from international energy agencies and Bangladesh’s national statistics is used. The hybrid system, as suggested from the study, would meet estimated competitive generation costs while lowering total emission made of CO2 by 25-35%. This integrated system approach provides a transitional pathway for other least-developed countries to promote economic development while generating less power.
