Energy & Power

Renewable

Alternative Energy Fair

EP Desk

A three-day ‘Alternative Energy Fair” took place at Sreepur Upazila Complex in Gazipur recently. It was jointly organized by Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) and Grameen Shakti.

The objectives of the exhibition were to introduce the renewable and efficient energy technologies to the common people and make them aware about the sustainable energy technologies.

It was participated by 16 organizations involved in research, production, promotion and dissemination of efficient and renewable energy technologies. The organizations included governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational and research institutions and private sector entrepreneurs.

Among the organizations were LGED, IDCOL, GTZ, Bangladesh Agriculture University, Grameen Shakti, BRAC, Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI), Rahimafrooz, RIMSO, MATI, CMES, Nuria Engineering, CEWDC and Nazmul Nursery.

Many items like solar PV, biogas plant, biogas generator, bio-fertilizer, solar heater, solar drier, solar cooker, improved stove, wind mill, briquette, LPG were displayed in the show.

The opening ceremony was addressed by ANH Akhtar Hossain, Secretary, Power Division, BD Rahmatullah, Director General, Power Cell and Chairman, SEDA, Erich Otto Gomm of GTZ-PURE, Dipal Chandra Barua, Managing Director, Grameen Shakti, Qamar Munir, Project Manager, IPSU, Ministry of Environment and Forest, Paul Weijers, Coordinator, GTZ-Progress, Syed Abu Abdullah, Chief Engineer, REB and Rasheda Firdousi, Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Sreepur.

Dipal Barua spoke about the Grameen Shakti, which was established in 1996 as a dedicated organization for disseminating renewable energy technologies. Since then, it has been working on the extension of solar home system, biogas technology, wind energy, biomass gasifier etc.

By this time, Grameen Shakti has installed more than 54,000 solar home systems, 192 biogas plants, one windmill and one biomass gasifier. As a recognition, Grameen Shakti received a number of national and international awards – “Energy Globe Award 2002” from Austria, “European Solar Prize 2003” from Germany, “Best Theme Award 2003” from USAID, “Solar Prize 2004” from IDCOL and “Solar Prize 2005” from the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.

Barua said that since majority of the people of Bangladesh live in rural areas, providing them conventional energy is impossible. “Only renewable energy can solve the problem and improve their lifestyle.”

Qamar Munir said that the renewable energy technologies are environmentally friendly. “Over the last two decades, environmental issues are getting more and more importance,” he said adding that renewable energy technologies are getting more and more priority.

He said policy support costs little, but benefits a lot. “The government of Bangladesh has already taken some steps for policy intervention,” Munir said stressing on the wide spread dissemination of biogas technology, as it produces energy, conserves environment, prevents diseases and produces pathogen free fertilizer. He called this technology as “4 in 1”.

He said Bangladesh is lucky, because the weather here is suitable both for solar and biogas. “The best way to proceed forward is to identify the resources, organize and train the entrepreneurs, who would bring the devices to people,” he said urging all to come forward and start a united effort.

The coordinator of the GTZ project “promotion of the use of renewable energies” (PURE) Otto Gomm described the objectives of the program.

The project is working towards development of renewable energies in Bangladesh. It facilitates provision of renewable energy technologies to rural households, firms, institutions, cooperatives or communities through application of market-oriented approaches. The project is working together with government, educational and research institutions, NGOs and private sector organizations. The main focus has been laid on the rural areas, where the energy supply is relatively poor and the renewable energies have greater potential.

The fair was also a part of GTZ-PURE activities.

Chief Engineer of REB Syed Abu Abdullah emphasized the need of demonstration. “Such fairs are necessary, because the technologies are new and the rural people need to be acquainted to these,” he said adding that the REB works for providing electricity to the rural people. “REB has also taken up programs to disseminate alternative energies.”

Paul Weijers described the objectives of GTZ and German-Bangladesh cooperation.

The German Technical Cooperation (GTZ) is an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with operations in more than 130 partner countries worldwide. GTZ is supporting approximately 2,700 development projects and programs chiefly on behalf of the government of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTZ’s aim is to improve the living conditions and perspectives of people in developing and transition countries. In Bangladesh, GTZ focuses on three areas, which are healthcare, energy and business promotion.

Weijers mentioned that Bangladesh has attained some success in the economical and social development. He expressed his expectation that Bangladesh would proceed in its development path and attain sustainable development. He hoped that within 10 years time Bangladesh would not need any foreign assistance and would be self reliant.

ANH Akhtar Hossain said that efficient and renewable energies are necessary to provide sustainable energy and to improve the environment. “Developed and developing countries are giving special attention to the harnessing of renewable energies,” he said adding even India is now producing about 2,000 MW power from wind.

“Bangladesh has the potential of wind energy. Bangladesh needs to utilize these opportunities,” he said mentioning that the government is giving high priority to renewable energy development. “A dedicated organization SEDA is going to be set up soon, which would oversee all renewable energy activities of the country.”

Emphasizing on the need of coordination among the stakeholders he told the function that only concerted efforts would lead to success.

BD Rahmatullah explored the needs of renewable energies in the perspective of overall energy supply scenario of Bangladesh. “Energy is an important ingredient for development. Bangladesh is one of the low energy consuming countries of the world. Yet, Bangladesh is unable to meet the energy demand.”

He said that the load shedding is hampering the growth of the country. “Renewable energies have the potential to reduce the load shedding and contribute to sustainable development.”

“As such Bangladesh has no other way than to harness all possible and feasible renewable energy sources. Dissemination of renewable energy technologies is important. Fairs like this one at Sreepur would play vital roles in introducing renewable energy technologies to the rural people,” he said.

He mentioned that the establishment of SEDA would contribute enormously for the development of renewable energies. A number of NGOs and private companies are working towards promoting renewable energy technologies. Some of them developed devices, which help save energy (i.e. improved stove, solar cooker, solar heater, solar drier, biogas burner, biogas appliances, energy saving lamp) or improve the quality of life (i.e. solar home system for lighting, biogas, rice husk briquette, LPG for clean cooking).

Large number of enthusiastic people – women and men, entrepreneurs, NGO representatives, academics, governmental officers, local elites, teachers and students of local educational institutions visited the fair. Not only local people but also from neighboring districts and even Dhaka went to visit the fair.

This gave them an opportunity to get first hand information on different efficient and renewable energy devices -- solar home system, solar cooker, solar dryer, solar water heater, biogas technology, improved stoves, biogas stoves, etc.

Many of the visitors saw such products for the first time and were happy to interact with the exhibitors and others on the energy issues. The fair contributed to raise awareness of people about the efficient and renewable energy technologies and their uses.

The stall of improved stoves saw the biggest gathering all three days long. The visiting women and men were delighted to see the improved stove made of mud and other locally available raw materials. During discussion they unveiled that they were increasingly facing fuel crisis. Such stoves would help fuel saving and produce no smoke in the kitchen. They intended to get improved stove at their houses as soon as possible.

In response to large query, it was informed that GTZ-PURE would organize a seven-day training course for local unemployed youths -- men and women within a short time. These trained people would then construct improved stoves on commercial basis.

A lottery was also held among the persons, who entered their names for improved stoves. Twenty lucky households would get improved stoves installed at the cost of GTZ-PURE. Rahimafrooz presented the Headmaster of Sreepur Pilot School an educational kit for renewable energies. It would help students and teachers to understand the renewable energy technologies.
During the fair, GTZ organized a quiz competition among students. The quiz included questions regarding renewable energies and fair. Over 150 students from Class I to university took part in this competition. In the closing ceremony, the winners received prized from The GTZ-PURE coordinator. This event helped to create enthusiasm on renewable energies among students.
Besides renewable energy technologies, the fair had also some side events. Every evening, there was cultural soirees, enjoyed by hundreds of people.
There are a large number of poultry farms in Gazipur, which hold good potential for producing biogas and bio-fertilizer. In December 2005 Grameen Shakti with support from GTZ started a program to promote biogas use in poultry farms in Sreepur. It is expected that this fair would accelerate the installation of biogas plants in the area and increase the use of other renewable energy technologies as well. The organizers further expect that the people would use energy more efficiently.