Greenhouse gas emission and renewable energy sources for sustainable development in Bangladesh

Bangladesh is an energy starving country. The country will be on one of the fast growing power markets with its population and growing energy demand per person, its fast growing urbanization, and its socioeconomic development. At present the potential demand of power is 5569 MW and the supply is below 4000 MW. The country is dependent on the imported petroleum that is big burden on the economy. The per capita emission is only 0.2667 tonne per person still much below the world leading countries (19.8 tonne per person for USA). However, Bangladesh is one of the most vulnerable to climate change effect in the world. In this regard, renewable energy resources appear to be the one of the most efficient and effective solution for clean and sustainable energy development in Bangladesh. Biomass is the dominating source of energy in Bangladesh. Biomass energy is used in a very traditional way. Biomass conversion to energy in the form of liquid, gaseous and solid pellet or briquette could be a viable option to reduce the pressure on the conventional fossil fuel. The geographical location of Bangladesh has several advantages for extensive use of grid connected solar electricity and stand alone solar PV system. This article presents a review of the potential and utilization of the renewable energy sources in Bangladesh. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.