Renewable energy expansion a key requirement: BERC

Bangladesh Energy Regulatory Commission (BERC) Chairman Jalal Ahmed said that the expansion of renewable energy was no longer solely an environmental concern but a key requirement for ensuring energy security, saving foreign exchange and maintaining export competitiveness.

“If the budgetary support measures are implemented properly, achieving the target of generating 7,000 megawatts of renewable energy by 2030 will be possible,” he said while addressing at a discussion titled “Incentives for the Renewable Energy Sector in the National Budget 2026-2027: A Promising Foundation for a Sustainable Energy Future” held at CIRDAP in the capital on Thursday.

Energy experts and environmental activists urged the government to ensure effective implementation of the tax and duty incentives announced for the renewable energy sector in the national budget for fiscal year 2026-27 and formulate a clear roadmap to maximise their benefits.

Shafiqul Alam of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA) in Bangladesh presented the keynote paper that said renewable energy currently contributes only 2.3 per cent of the country’s electricity generation, far below the global average of around 34 percent, while reliance on imported energy has continued to rise.

The speakers at the event also highlighted the importance of ensuring an investment-friendly environment, long-term policy stability, grid modernisation and investment in energy storage technologies. They called for making incentive facilities more accessible to small and medium entrepreneurs as well as household-level users.

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