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Current status of renewable energy sector in Bangladesh and a proposed grid

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012
Current Status of Renewable Energy Sector in Bangladesh and
a Proposed Grid Connected Hybrid Renewable Energy System
Md. Habib Ullah*, Tamzidul Hoque, Md Musaddaqul Hasib
Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering,
Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh
*Corresponding author’s email address: imshouruv@gmail.com
 available in the country. The potential non-exhaustive
Abstract— Power is one of the most important factors for a
developing country like Bangladesh. Like the rest of the
countries of the world, the demand for power is increasing
day by day in our country. At present, power failure has
become an acute problem for this country. In recent times,
establishment of important physical infrastructures, setting
up of new power plants and the pace of industrialization in
the country has slowed down due to energy supply shortage.
The sluggish industrialization which has hindered
development activities is apprehended to create a negative
impact on employment and consequently on the people’s
livelihood. Realizing the necessity for its improvement, we
proposed grid connected hybrid renewable system in which
the load can take power from both the proposed system and
grid. In our proposed system, the grid can use the residue
power which is left out after the load is supplied completely.
Index Terms— Biogas, Biomass, Gasification, Hybrid
system, Solar energy, Wind energy.
I. INTRODUCTION
Low-income developing countries like Bangladesh are
very much susceptible to the setbacks arising from the
ongoing energy crisis. Natural gas lies at the heart of the
country's energy usage, accounting for around 72% of
the total commercial energy consumption and 81.72%
of the total electricity generated [1, 2]. However, the
waning gas resources suggest that the country will face
deficit of 142 million cubic feet per day (mmcfd) in 2011
and it will rise to 1714 mmcfd by 2019-20. Even if
Bangladesh's GDP growth r emains as low as 5.5 percent
till 2025, the country will need to add 19,000 MW of
additional power, causing the gas demand to spiral up
to 4,567 mmcfd by 2019-20 [3]. Such an overwhelming
dependence on bio fuel has brought into focus the
substantial amount of renewable energy r esources
Manuscript Received Dec. 10, 2012; Revised Dec. 28, 2012; Accepted
Dec. 30, 2012.
618
sources of energies, available in the form solar,
biomass, biogas, hydropower and wind, can be
harnessed to provide an environmentally sustainable
energy security, as well as affordable power supply to
the off-grid rural areas of the country. To this end,
effec tive utilization of renewable energy resources has
been adopted as a policy of the Government of
Bangladesh (GOB) [4]. Different government, semi -
government and nongovernment organizations (NGOs)
have been working separately or jointly to disseminate
renewable energy technologies (RET) throughout the
country over a significant period, as has been repor ted
in the recent literature [5, 6]. However, prospective
planning and comprehensive understanding of this
dynamic field requires continuous assessment.
Moreover, the progression, as well as regressions, in
this sector should be continually scrutinized. Motivated
by these objectives, we present in this paper a
contemporary scenario of the renewable energy r elated
activities in Bangladesh. Based on fieldwork, covering
discussions with key figures of the public and private
sector, and exhaustive literature review, we
demonstrate here the advancement in this field with
respect to physical progress, research activities and
infrastructural development. Also a comparison of the
five forms of renewable energy r esources in Bangladesh
has been drawn on the basis of the output power
calculation of each sector.
II. OVERVIEW OF CURRENT RENEWABLE ENERGY
SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
In our country renewable energy such as biomass,
solar power and wind power are being used since time
immemorial. Especially in areas which are outside gas
coverage, usage of biomass for cooking a nd solar
power and wind for drying of different grains as well
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012

as clothes are known to all. However, we are still

lagging far behind in the scientific use of such energy. Ta bl e 1. SHS's i ns ta l l a ti on up to Februa ry 2012 [9]
Moreover, the use of renewable energy has become Partner Organization Number of SHSs Installed
popular worldwide in view of depleti ng reserve of Grameen Shakti 750,657
non-renewable fossil fuel. Renewable energy is RSF 199,209
environment-friendly. At pr esent, the different
BRAC 75,440
categories of renewable energy that are being used in
Srizony Bangladesh 54,011
limited ways in our country are as follows:
Hilful Fuzul Samaj Kallyan Sangstha 32,630
Solar power generation using solar rays UBOMUS 23,651

Wind-mill power generation using wind power BRIDGE 19,148

Hydro-electricity Integrated Development Foundation 12,618

TMSS 11,787
Production of bio-gas using waste
PDBF 9,869
Electricity produced by Biomass Gasification Method
SEF 16,783
using wood, rice husk, etc.
AVA 10,564
DESHA 9,593
A. Solar Energy BGEF 13,684
Solar Energy is a great source for solving power crisis RDF 15,911
in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is situated between 20.30 COAST 6,181
and 26.38 degrees north latitude and 88.04 and 92.44 INGEN 8,487
degrees east which is an ideal location for solar energy CMES 5,543
utilization [8]. At this position the amount of hours of NUSRA 7,651
sunlight each day throughout a year is shown in the RIMSO 6,798
following graph in the Figure-1 [7]. The highest and the
Shubashati 4,933
lowest intensity of direct radiation in W/m² are also
REDI 5,209
shown in the Figure-1 [7].
GHEL 4,981
SFDW 7,417
PMUK 2,046
Patakuri 2,087
ADAMS 2,433
AFAUS 1,003
Xenergeia 252
Other 389
Total 1,320,965
Figure 1. The amount of hours of sunlight in Bangladesh

Infrastructure development company limited The amount is significant considering the upward trend
(IDCOL) has supported NGOs in installation of solar of the number of SHSs (Solar Home System) installations
home systems (SHSs) and a total of 1,320,965 SHSs in the country.
having capacity of about more than 36.5 MW have been
installed upto February 2012 [12]. Bangladesh power
development board (BPDB) has implemented an Dhaka : 346,161
excellent Solar PV electrification project in the 14% Chittagong : 257,578
26%
Chittagong hill tracts region. The Solar PV electrification 11% Khulna : 146,388
has emerged as the most appropriate technological Barishal : 245,185
18% Sylhet : 140,386
option for the electrification of these areas [10]. A 10 20%
11% Rajshahi : 185,267
kW central AC solar PV system has been installed in one
selected market in each of the thr ee Rangamati Total : 1,320,965
district’s sub-districts. With these systems, the shops of
that market have been electrified with normal AC Figure 2. Distribution of the SHSs (Solar Home System) in six divisions
electricity [11]. in Bangladesh up to Feb 2012 [9]

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Table 3. Wind turbine (all are in Functioning) installations in Bangladesh

by different organizations [16]
The Figure 2 shows the approximate division wise SHSs
installation. The figure illuminates that the distribution Organization Type of Installed Location
of the SHSs is highest in the Dhaka district wher eas Name Application Capacity
lowest in the Sylhet. (Watt)
3 Hybrid 4,500 Grameen
Offices in the
B. Wind Energy Coastal Region

Bangladesh has a 724 km long coast line and many Grameen

small islands in the Bay of Bengal, where strong south- Shakti
westerly trade wind and sea-breeze blow in the summer Hybrid 7,500 Cyclone Shelter
in the Coastal
months and there is gentle north-easterly trade wind Region
and land breeze in winter months. Bangladesh is in the
midst of a severe energy and power supply crisis; one of
the worst in South Asia. However, the government is Stand-alone 900 Coastal Region
now looking to explore the potential of wind energy,
particularly along the country’s 700 kilometer long BRAC
Hybrid 4,320 Coastal Region
coastline. Bangladesh has a 724 km long coast line and
many small islands in the Bay of Bengal, where strong
south-westerly trade wind and sea-breeze blow in the Bangladesh Army Stand-alone 400 Chittagong Hill
Tracts
summer months and there is gentle north-easterly trade
wind and land breeze in winter months [14]. Along the Stand-alone 1,100 Teknaf
coastal area of Bangladesh, the annual average wind IFDR
speed at 30m height is more than 5 m/s [13]. Wind
Stand-alone 600 Meghnaghat
speed in northeastern parts in Bangladesh is above 4.5
m/s while for the other parts of the country wind speed LGED Wind-PV 400 Kuakata
is around 3.5 m/s [13, 15]. Some measurements were Hybrid
made by F. Rahman in some coastal areas followed by a
Total 19,720
year’s measurement in Patenga (Chittagong) at a height
of 20 m in 1995. It was found that wind speed is higher
than the values obtained by the meteorological
department. This led to a year-long systematic wind It was found that wind speeds in the districts of
speed study at seven coastal sites in 1996-97 at a height Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar were the only ones which
showed promise. Extending the idea, only coastal area
of 25 m.
and the bay islands showed promise for possible
electricity generation from wind. Beside wind-mapping
Ta bl e 2. Feasibility of Wi nd Conditions a t Different Pl aces [12] project launched by the government indicate that areas
in the southern coastal region are suitable for setting up
Site Reference Height Annual average wind turbines. Wind energy can potentially generate
(m) wind more than 2000 megawatts of electricity in the coastal
speed (m/s) regions [xx]. The growth of wind energy in the
Teknaf 5 2.16
underdeveloped, coastal areas of the country holds
Cox's Bazar 10 2.42 hope for poor, isolated communities that are not
Patenga 5 2.45 connected to the national electricity grid and who are
Airport
also unlikely to receive grid connection in the near
Kutubdia Island 6 2.09
future due to the high cost of establishing
Sandip Island 5 2.16 infrastructure, and growing scarcity of traditional
Hatia Island 6 2.08 energy inputs
Bhola Island 7 2.44
Khepupara 10 2.36 Recently, Bangladesh’s first-ever generation of
Comilia Airport 6 2.21 electricity from wind at a 900-kilowatt plant has
ushered in new hopes for generation of power with
minimum cost in the country. The power plant, located
near the Muhuri Dam in southeastern Feni district, have
four separate wind turbines of 225 kw each. It is now

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Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012

ready to generate electricity from wind and supply to Hydro power of the fluid into mechanical power which
the Muhuri Irrigation Project and the national grid, is further converted to electrical energy. Many types of
according to The Bangladesh power development hydro power plants can be setup according to the
board. Beside several small wind generators have been generation capacity.
installed by BRAC (11 small wind turbines in various
Pico-Hydro up to 5 kW
coastal sites) and Grameen Shakti (two wind generators
Micro-Hydro >5<300kW
of 300 W and 1 KW at its Chakoria Shrimp Farm).
Mini-Hydro >300kW<3 MW
Grameen Shakti has recently installed 4 small wind
Small-Hydro >3MW<10MW
generators (3xl.5KW + ONE 10 KW) in Barguna district
[XXX]. They are planning to develop these stations into The Karnafuly Hydro Power Station is the only
hybrid systems later, first with diesel and then with hydropower plant in the country (located at kaptai,
solar pv, to maximize the energy output and then study about 50 km from the port city of Chittagong), having a
the cost economics. Their final quantitative results capacity of 230 MW by 5 units. It is operated by BPDB
would be awaited with great interest. Grameen Shakti (Bangladesh Power Develop-ment Board). BPDB is
has set up four of its wind generators to power cyclone considering the increase of production up to 330MW.
shelters set up along the coast. The organization now Two sites have been chosen for another two Hydro
plans to develop micro-enterprise zones around these power plants at the Sangu and Matamuhuri rivers, one
cyclone shelters. The wind generators will provide named The Sangu project (140MW) and the other The
electricity to buildings that are frequented by micro- Mata-muhuri Project (75MW). BPDB has designed a
entrepr eneurs.. Grameen Shakti has already started 20kW micro-hydro power plant with the help of
providing electricity to fish and prawn farms in Cox RETScreen, developed by CANMET Energy
Bazaar, an important fishing port. The Bangladesh Diversification Research Laboratory of Can-ada (CEDRL)
Power Development Board has estimated that wind at Barkal (a sub-district in the Chittagong Hill tracts)
energy can contribute to 10% of the energy needs of waterfall [18]. The Water Development Board (BWDB)
the country [xxx]. The Board has also calculated the cost and Power Develop-ment Board (BPDB) carried out a
to generate one kilowatt hour of power (kWh) from joint study on Micro-Hydro power potential in the
wind energy to be about half the cost of generating an country. In Table-7*17+ it’s given in de-tail.
equivalent unit of power from solar energy. The
expansion of the potential of wind energy will be crucial Table 4. Potential small hydro sites identified from the study
in order for Bangladesh to achieve its national vision of District River/Chara/Stream Potential of Electrical
providing electricity to all of its population by 2020. energy in kW
1.Foy’s Lake 4
However, in order for targeted poor communities to
2.Choto Kumira 15
enjoy the benefits of access to electricity, there may be
3.Hinguli Chara 12
a need for setting up of vocational training programs for Chittagong
4.Sealock 81
rural and urban poor micro-entrepreneurs. 5.LungiChara 10
6.Budiachara 10
7.Nikhari Chara 26
C. Hydro-electricity Sylhet
8. MadhabCha-ra1500ft. 78
Bangladesh is a plain delta with having three of the from fall
world’s major rivers the Ganges, the Brahmaputra and 9.Ranga pani gung 616
10. Bhugai-Kongsa at 2 69 kw for 10 months
the Meghna flowing through it. The Jamuna -Padma- miles U/S. of Nalita-bari 48 kw for 2 months
Meghna river system divides it into east and west and Jamalpur P.S.
creates an average water flow of 1 .3 trillion m3 in a 11. Marisi at Duka-bad 35Kw for 10 months 20 kw
near Jhinaigati Thana Head for 2 months
year throughout the country. Many other rivers flow Quarter
throughout the country which are actually the tri - ` 12. Dahuk at Burabari 24
butaries of these rivers. Out of all the rivers about 57 13. Chawai at U/S. of 32
Chawai L.L.P
rivers are transboundary originating from India and
14. Talam at U/S. of Talam 24
Myanmar [18]. During monsoon the flow rate of most Dinajpur
L.L.P
of the rivers is high but it reduces substantially during 15. Pathraj at Fulbari 32
16. Tangon at D/S of 48
winter. Hence the scope of hy-dropower generation is Nargun L.L.P
very limited in Bangladesh except in some hilly regions 17. Punarbhaba at 11
in the northeast and southeast parts of the country. Singraban
18. Buri Khora Chikli at 32
However there are a lot of tributaries, canals, tiny Rangpur Nizbari
waterfalls which have good potential for setting up 19. Fulkumar at Rai-ganj 48
Bazar.
hydro power plants. Hydro power plants convert the

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Ther e are many rivers with high flow rate in most uttered NGO in field of biogas. They have
monsoon but low in winter. It would be a good idea to completed 13,500 biogas plants [23]. Recently Seed
create a diversion struc-ture across the river channel, Bangla Foundation has proposed a 25 KW Biogas based
diversion channel along the bridge and the powerhouse Power Plant in Rajshahi [24]. IDCOL, a Government
at a suitable location that offers a suitable head. The owned Investment Company fixed a target to set up
Teesta Barrage, the largest irrigation project of the 37,669 biogas plants in Bangladesh by 2012, under its
country has several sites with sufficient head. BPDB has National Domestic Biogas and Manure programmers
submitted a proposal to the government to install a (NDBMP). It has also set a target of 25 per c ent of the
25kW power plant at the Teesta barrage. Further total target of biogas plants in the northern region
investigation can open the door to more success in this which is yet to be brought under the national gas grid
regard. Hydro energy is a sustainable renewable energy. [25]. Besides working in partnership with IDCOL, some
Bangladesh has good potential for the utilization of this organizations have constructed domestic biogas plants
energy in order to meet the demand. It can bring with their own funds. These are Grameen Shakti (about
remarkable development in the energy sector in near 3,664 plants of their own), BRAC (about 3,664 plants of
future. Sustainable Rural Energy (SRE) has explored their own), and some other private organizations which
some potential micro-hydro sites in Chittagong region in promote biogas plants independently [20]. Moreover,
2004 which is listed in Table 3 [19].From the Tables 2 since May 2011, IDCOL along with its partner
and 3 and the related discussions, it is clearthat there is organizations; has installed 18,713 biogas plants in
massive possibility of extracting electricity from the different parts of Bangladesh [26].
micro hydro energy. Ta bl e 6. Biogas Plant installation up to Ma y, 2011[21]
Ta bl e 5. Mi cro-hydro Power Sites Identi fi ed by SRE Study i n Partner Organization Biogas Plant
2004 Completed
Socio-economic Infrastructure
Grameen Shakti (GS) 10,637
Site Expected within
Power 1 Km Rahman Renewable Energy Co. Ltd. (RB) 896
Generation House School / Small Save our Urban Life -SOUL 865
(KW) hold Mosqjid/ Industry Kamrul Biogas and Compost Fertilizer 850
Bazaar/ Research Development Co. Ltd. (KB)
Clinic Hossain Biogas and Compost Fertilizer 609
Nunchari 3 100 3 1 Company Ltd. (HB)
Tholipara, Rural Services Foundation (RSF) 669
Khagrachari Srizony Bangladesh 537
Chang-oo- 30 200 5 2 DESHA 530
Para, Shubashati 396
Bandarban Basic Organization Network for Development 345
Bangchari, 25 600 12 5 and Humanitarian Aid for Nation (BONDHAN
Bandarban Nirapad Engineering 282
Liragaon, 20 500 8 3 Bhelabazar Shamaz Unnayan Sangstha (BSUS) 262
Bandarban
Development of Poor Society (DOPS) 145
Kamalchar, 20 150 8 9
Samaj Unnayan Kendra (SUK) 208
Rangamati
Anannyo Samaj Kallyan Sangostha (ASKS) 121
ThangKhrue, 30 300 6 3
Rangamati Mohila Bohumukhi Sikkha Kendra (MBSK) 104
Access toward Livelihood and Welfare 116
Monjaipara, 7.5 50 3 - Organisation (ALWO)
Bandarban
Sonali Unnayan Foundation (SUF) 90
Jahanara Biogas Construction Co.Ltd (JB) 82
SETU 77
D. Biogas RISDA-Bangladesh 85
Bangladesh has a wonderful climate for biogas Rural Reconstruction Foundation (RRF) 72
production. The ideal temperature for biogas is around Shariatpur Development Society (SDS) 42
35ºC. The temperature in Bangladesh usually varies Barendra Advancement Intergrated 40
Committee (BAIC)
from 6ºC to 40ºC and also the raw materials for biogas
Gonoshasthaya Kendra (GK) 29
are easily and cheaply available everywhere in this Gram Bikash Kendra (GBK) 26
country [22]. Bangladesh being an agricultural country, Center for Community Development & 159
raw materials for biogas are easily and cheaply available Research (CCDR)
everywhere. The Government along with several NGOs Others 439
is working together for development of power Total 18,713
production from Biogas. Grameen Sha kti is one of the

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E. Biomass
Production of rice husk energy is steady over
decade and day by day it is increasing in trend. In 1991,
the production of rice husk energy was 76.35 PJ and it 40000
increased to 106.1 PJ in 2004 (Fi gure 3). The growth of 35000
rice the husk production is calcul ated as 2.57% which is
higher than the overall growth of traditional fuel 30000
(1.73%) [27].
25000

20000

90 15000
83.04

80 10000
72.8
5000
70
Suplied Energy, PJ

0
60

50 44.72
41.26 Years
39.6
37.01
40
Fi gure 4. Ri ce producti on (Thous a nd Metri c Ton) i n
26.83 Ba ngl a des h i n pa s t el even yea rs
30

20 Gasification is the conversion of biomass to a

11.41
10
0 gasification converts the intrinsic chemical energy of the
Type Traditional Fuel
Figure 3. Estimated traditional energy supplied in the financial year
2003-2004 in Bangladesh (Source: BBS 2004 and own calculation and
plotting) [27]
Bangladesh is an agricultural country so biomass is
available in huge amount. Cattle dung, agricultural
residue, poultry dropping, water hyacinth, rice husk etc.
used for biomass power generation are available in
Bangladesh [28].
The figure 4 below indicates that the amount of rice
production in Bangladesh has been increased in recent
years and this amount of production has made us more
optimistic in using the rice husk as a biomass fuel which
is nevertheless a perfect source of renewable energy in
the context of Bangladesh [29].
gaseous fuel by heating in a gasification medium such as
air, oxygen or stea m. Unlike combustion where
oxidation is substantially complete in one process,
carbon in the biomass into a combustible gas in two
stages [31]. If biomass is gasified efficiently, it can
generate a high amount of clean product gas. The initial
step to the process is a thermo-chemical decomposition
of lignocelluloses compounds where char, tar and
volatile compounds produce as output. By thermo-
chemical gasification solid fuel is transformed into
gaseous fuel. Through this process, the chemical energy
of solid fuel is converted into both thermal and
chemical energy. The chemical energy contained
depends on its chemical composition that determines
the quality of product gas. High concentration of
combustible gases like H2, CO and CH4 increase the
combustion energy of the product gas. Several types of
gasifiers e.g. fixed-bed updraft and downdraft gasifier,
fluidized bed gasifier and bubbling bed gasifier are
available in the existing market with different sets of
pros and cons. However, the downdraft gasifier is a
comparatively cheap and the gasification in this type of
gasifier can produce a product gas with very low tar
content [31]. Keeping the process in mind, fixed-bed
downdraft gasifier is thus recommended for small -scale
rice husk biomass plant. Here, biomass fuel is fed at the
top of the reactor/gasifier. The fuel then slowly moves
down and during this time, the fuel reacts with air (the

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Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012
gasification agent), which is supplied by the suction of a
blower or an engine and is converted into combustible
producer gas in a complex series of oxidation,
reduction, and pyrolysis reactions [30]. Generated ash is
then removed from the bottom of the r eactor for silica
production.
Rice Husks Producer Gas Pure Producer Gas
Biomass Gasifier Purification 100% Syn
Storage Unit Gas
Engine
Electricity
Fi gure 5. El ectricity generation by ri ce hus k ga s i fi ca ti on [31]
F. Ocean Wave Energy
Ocean wave energy is generated directly from the
waves of the oceans. It is another special type of
renewable energy which helps to decrease the harmful
emissions of greenhouse gases associated with the
generation of power. It can be potentially a significant
source of electricity for Bangladesh. Though the main
purpose of ocean wave energy is electricity generation,
it can also be used for the pumping of water, water
desalination etc. According to Referenc e [34], “The
Oscillating Water Column method is technically feasible
and becoming attractive in this purpose. This type of
wave energy harnessing device is being commissioned
by several countries such as the United Kingdom (500
kW), Ireland (3.5 MW), No rway (100 kW), India (150
kW), etc.. Bangladesh has potential for harnessing
ocean wave energy from the BAY OF BENGAL.
G. Tidal Energy
Tidal power or tidal energy is a form of hydropower
that converts the energy of tides into electrical power.
As tides are more predictable than wind and sunlight,
tidal energy can easily be generated from the changing
sea levels. The coastal of Bangladesh has a tidal rise and
fall of between 2 to 5 meters [36]. Among these coastal
areas, with 5 meter tides experienced, Sandwip has the
best prospect to generate tidal energy [36]. Moreover,
according to Refer ence [18], Bangladesh can generate
tidal power from these coastal tidal resources by
applying Low head tidal movements and Medium head
tidal movements, low head tidal movements which uses
tides of height within 2m to 5m can be used in areas like
Khulna, Barisal, Bagerhat, Satkhira and Cox's Bazar
624
regions and the height tidal movements which use more
than 5m of tides can be mainly used in Sandwip. So we
can say that with suitable tidal height available, this can
be a great source of energy for Bangladesh.
H. Geothermal Energy
The thermal energy which is generated and stored
inside the earth surface is called Geother mal energy. It
is very much cost effective and environmentally
friendly. With this technology, we can use the steam
and hot water produced inside the earth surface to
generate electricity. Geother mal energy is generated
about 4,000 miles below the surface, in the earth’s core
[32]. The process takes place due to the slow decay of
radioactive particles, the high temperature produced
inside the earth and it happens in all rocks [32]. About
10,715 megawatts (MW) of geother mal energy is
generated in 24 countries worldwide [32]. The northern
districts of Bangladesh show the prospect to explore the
geothermal resources. The demand of electricity in
urban as well as in the rural areas are increasing, but
our production of electricity is not increasing. The rural
demand for electricity can be covered by the production
of electricity through geothermal energy. The electricity
demand of urban areas can be met then by this saved
electricity which is supposed to be provided in the rural
areas. Geother mal energy can balance the electricity
consumption in these two areas. According to
Reference [33], a Dhaka based private company namely
Anglo MGH Energy has initiated a project to setup the
country’s first geothermal power plant with a capacity
to produce 200 MW of electricity close to Saland in
Thakurgaon district. They have planned to set up 28
deep tube wells to lift hot steam and the lifted steam
will be used to run a turbine and the turbine is
connected to the generator to generate electricity [33].
From the above discussion it is clear that geother mal
energy can also be a great source of harnessing
electrical energy in Bangladesh.
III. Proposed Hybrid Renewable Energy System
A. Proposed Block Diagram and Mechanism
Our proposed hybrid system is designed for both on
grid and off grid operation to reduce dependency on the
national grid for electrical supply. The figure 6 shows
the block diagram of a typical hybrid grid connected
power system. The system consists of PV generators,
wind generator, biogas, biomass (rice husk), micro-
hydro, battery bank, battery charge controller and the
dump load. The provisions for the availability of both AC
(Bus 1) and DC (Bus 2) buses are made using converters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012

from system and also from the grid. When the desired
power for the loads is greater than the proposed system
Hydro Biogas Biomass power (output of transformer) then the additional
Power Plant Generator
Generator power supplied from the grid. In this research, we
proposed a plan, where the grid can use the residue
power, which is left out after the load is supplied
PV Wind
completely. When the demand of the load power is less
Panel Turbine
Bus 1 AC than the proposed system power than the extra power
from the system fed to the national grid. To maintain
the mechanism when the load take power from the grid
and when the proposed system supply to the national
Rectifier grid, there is a controller. Our proposed hybrid system
will be very effec tive especially for remote a reas of
Bus 2 DC Bangladesh like Chittagong hill track, Cox-bazaar hill
side and sea side, Islands and so on.

Battery B. Charge Controller

Charge Controller Bank
A charge controller's job is to regulate the voltage
Grid and current coming from and going into battery. So a
charge controller takes the power from somewhere
Load Controller Dump
(usually a solar panel installation, wind, or solar) and
Load
pushes it into the battery at the right levels. It is used to
sense when the batteries are fully charged and to stop
Inverter DC/DC Converter or decrease the amount of energy flowing from the
energy source to the batteries [37]. Discharging a
DC Load 1 battery, or taking the power out of it, can be controlled
Transformer by a charge controller, and the point of doing so is to
protect the battery. Batteries are not designed to be
DC Load 2
fully discharged. If we do run our batteries all the way
Controller . down, it will ruin their life expectancy. So a charge
. controller can be used to protect the batteries by
sensing when they are full, ½ ways done, and need to
DC Load n be shut off to remain protected. Since the batteries are
AC Loads
the most expensive part of the system, by using a
charge controller to protect them is usually a good idea.

Fi gure 6. Propos ed Pl a n of hybri d Renewa bl e Sys tem

Here the input from solar and wind is directly connected
to the Bus 2; wher eas the input from biogas, biomass
(rice husk), hydro power generator are connected to
Bus 1 which is fed by conver ting them from AC to DC.
Here the dump load is used to put power when the
batteries are fully charged. Then one the outputs from
the Bus 2 fed to DC/DC converter for boosting which is
served for various DC loads and another one is fed to
charge controller which is used to control loads and
inverter. So that we may get both DC and AC output.
The desire powers for DC loads are supplied from load
controller to DC/DC converter to DC loads whereas an
inverter is used to supply to the AC loads. Ther e is a
step up transformer which is used to boost up the
output of inverter and this output goes to a controller.
In our proposed system, the AC loads can take power
C. Dump Load
A dump load is a secondary place to put power
when the batteries are fully charged. Since the batteries
are a sizeable investment in any autonomous power
arrangement, they need to be protec ted from
overcharging which will shorten their life span. Simply
the dump load takes the power when the charge
controller senses that the batteri es are full, to protect
them [37]. Onc e the power has been diverted, the
dump load uses the power for something productive
rather than lose it directly into the ground.
IV. TOTAL POWER CALCULATION
The individual power equations and total power
equation [35]
Solar power, P solar = (Area per sq- ft × watts per sq-ft)
3
Wind power, P wind = 0.5 ×ρ ×A ×v

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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ADVANCED RENEWABLE ENERGY RESEARCH
Md. Habib Ullah, et al., Vol. 1, Issue. 11, pp. 618-627, 2012
Where,
A=area perpendicular to the direction of flow (m2),
v=wind velocity (in ms-1),
-3
ρ =density of air which is about 1.2 Kgm .
Biogas generator power, Pbiomass(W)=
Biomass power, Pbiomass (W)=
Hydro power, P hydro (W) = H × Q × g × 1000
Where, H=Gross water head (in meter),
Q=Flow of water (in m3/sec) and
g=Gravitation force i.e. 9.81 (in ms -2)
Now,
The total power, P T (W) =Psolar + Pwind + Phydro + Pbiogas +
Pbiomass
V. CONCLUSION
The target for achieving higher economic growth
with power supply deficit has faded other achievements
in infrastructural development of the country;
therefore, private investors are not showing much
interest in investments. Power is one of the significant
raw materials for all sorts of industries starting from
agricultural industries. Electrification is also necessary
for increasing socio-economic activities in rural areas. In
order to overcome the pr esent power deficit situation,
targets are fixed in the Outline Perspective Plan of
Bangladesh. If we go ahead as planned, it will be
possible for all citizens to have access to power within
2021. In addition, a six year plan up to 2016 has been
adopted to improve power scarcity and provide excess
power for future. Vision of increasing economic growth
to 8 percent by 2014 and 10 percent by 2017 through
industrialization will be a reality with the
implementation of this pl an.
Bangladesh is lacking continuous supply of power
from national grid connection especially in rural and
remote areas. A new model of an efficient, suitable and
robust hybrid system has been pr esented in this paper
to overcome this problem. The current scena rio of
country's renewable energy sector has been presented
with necessary data and graphs. This solution will
definitely help solving current power crisis and at the
same time will have a positive impact over social and
626
economical status of rural society using green energy
technology.
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Md. Habib Ullah is an aspi ring
resea rcher in the field of Renewable
energy and Power Sys tem. He
completed his undergradua te wi th a
promising a cademi c result in Electrical
and Electroni cs Engineering from
Ahsanullah Uni versi ty of Science and
Technology. One of his Journal paper
is on renewable energy is
a ccepted for publi cation i n an
Interna tional journal, and his another work is a ccepted in an
upcoming conference. Now he is waiting for the opportuni ty to
join a sta te -of-the-art labora tory to do his gradua te level
res earch on his field of interest.
Mr. Tamzidul Hoque Completed his
B.Sc. degree i n Electri cal and Electroni c
Engineering from Ahsanullah Uni versity
of Science and Technology. In
undergradua te level, he completed
ma ny projects on Power Sys tem
Protection and VLSI design. He also
completed his thesis on VLSI Design
where he proposed new Hybrid
Models of Digital Multiplexers.His field
of interes t is Wi reless Communi ca tion, Renewable Energy and VLSI
des ign .
Md. Musaddaqul Hasib completed his
undergradua te s tudy i n Electri cal and
Electronic Engineering from Ahsanullah
Uni versi ty of Science and Technology. His
a t: specified field of resea rch is Renewable
energy. From this interes t he completed his
undergradua te thesis on Wind turbine and
al ready one resea rch paper on Sola r
Energy has been a ccepted in an upcoming
conference. He is willing to pa rti cipa te in
cutti ng edge research in graduate level.
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