Global investment in renewable energy set a new record of $30 billion in 2004, according to a report released by the Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century (REN21) in 2005. Renewable sources such as wind, solar, hydropower, biomass and geothermal provide more energy than ever before and amount to 17 per cent of the global primary energy supply. In addition to 720 gigawatts of large hydropower, technologies such as wind, solar, biomass, and small hydropower, sometimes referred to as "new renewables", now provide 160 gigawatts of electricity generating capacity, about 4 per cent of the world total, the report finds.

The report finds that government support for renewable energy is growing rapidly. At least 48 countries, including 14 developing countries now have some type of renewable energy promotion policy. Most targets are for shares of electricity production, typically 5-30 percent, by the 2010-2012 timeframe. The report mentioned that, an estimated US $500 million goes to developing countries each year as development assistance for renewable energy projects, training, and market support, with the German Development Finance Group (KfW), the World Bank Group, and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) providing the majority of these funds, and dozens of other donors and programmes providing the rest.

India could realise the importance of renewable energy technologies 30 years back. They started working on renewable energy technologies in late 1970s. Recognising the importance of renewable sources of energy Commission for Additional Sources of Energy (CASE) was set up in 1981 with the objectives to develop and demonstrate Renewable Energy Technologies (RETs). Subsequently, in 1982, the Department for Non-conventional Sources of Energy (DNSE) was created, which was later upgraded to the Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (MNES) in 1992.

In order to overcome financial and technical barriers on the way to wide dissemination of the RETs, Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency Limited (IREDA) was established in March 1987 as a public sector enterprise. As a result, India has become the fourth renewable energy producing country. From wind alone, they are harnessing about 5000 MW electricity. There are now about 4 million biogas plants.

China is also playing a pioneering role in the field of renewable energy. The state leaders are committed and have paid great attention to promote renewable energy technologies to meet rural energy supplies. As early as 1958, Chairman Mao issued directives for the development of renewable energy technologies. In July 1980, Mr. Deng Xiaoping pointed out during his visits in Sichuan that, development of renewable energy technologies could help to solve rural energy problem.

In March 1991, President Jiang Zemin pointed out during his visit in Hunan that RETs could contribute to both farmers' living and environment protection. In 2003, President Hu Jintao visited RET demo-sites in three provinces of Hunan, Jiangxi and Hebei and showed his interest. On September 19, 2002, Premier Wen Jiabao signed a document, saying that development of RETs not only provides living energy but also contributes to ecological environment protection. It is a significant and meaningful public welfare cause.

A favourable policy and legal environment are crucial for the promotion of any technology. The Agricultural Law (1993), Energy Saving Law (1997) and Renewable Energy Law (2005) have all emphasised the importance of rural energy security. Rural energy development has also been included into the 21st Century Agenda of China and Mid-term and Long-term National Social and Economic Development Plan. All these legislations have provided a long and stable policy supportive mechanism and policy guidance for the rural energy development. Based on the above-mentioned laws and policies, MOA issued 2005~2010 Rural Energy Development Plan. It may be mentioned here that, in China there are now 20 million biogas plants. They are conducting international training courses on biogas, solar, wind, micro-hydro etc.

Bangladesh is one of the low energy consuming countries of the world. At present the per capita energy consumption is 220 kgoe. National grid could so far cover only 35 per cent of the total population and only 3 per cent people are enjoying piped gas supply. About 70 per cent people of Bangladesh live in rural areas where the situation is worse. As a result, rural to urban migration is high in Bangladesh. In 1951 only 2.5 per cent people would live in urban areas which now has risen to 30 per cent. The population of Dhaka city was 0.35 million in 1951 and it is now more than 10 million. Dhaka has now become the 8th mega city in the world. According to UN Population Division, Dhaka will be the 2nd mega city in 2015.

In the rural areas the houses are scattered. Neither grid nor piped supply is suitable for those areas. Decentralized supply systems like solar, biogas, wind etc have no alternative. About 90 per cent of the electricity now produced in the country is based on natural gas, which has limited reserves and will be exhausted in the near future. It means, when our gas reserves will be exhausted, there will be no electricity. To face this grave situation, searching alternative sources of energy is of great importance.

Bangladesh has wonderful climate for most of the RETs. It is situated between 20.30 - 26.38 degrees north latitude and 88.04 - 92.44 degrees east longitude which is an ideal location for solar energy utilization. The daily average solar radiation varies between 4 and 6.5 kWh per square meter, which many countries do not have. For biogas, the ideal temperature is around 35 per cent. The temperature in Bangladesh usually varies from 60 to 400. But the inside temperature of a biogas digester remains 220-300, which is very near to the optimum requirement. Raw materials for biogas are easily and cheaply available everywhere. All hazardous materials that pollute environment, spreads bad smell and diseases are the raw materials in a biogas plant.

In Bangladesh, several studies have been carried out to assess wind potential. But these are in a very limited spots, which does not represent the country status. Experts believe that, there is wide scope for wind energy generation in Bangladesh. A countrywide comprehensive survey should be carried out to assess the wind potential. If the potential spots can be identified, the technology is proven and known to many. Wind energy is the most economic and environmentally friendly option of generating electricity. Bangladesh has a coastal belt of about 710 km, which is ideal for wave and tide energy. All these options are decentralised and are suitable for rural areas of Bangladesh, where extension of national grid or pipeline is uneconomic.

Bangladesh declared National Energy Policy in 1995, which includes renewable energy also. In the policy document government decided to establish an authority to deal with the renewable energy issues. In 1997 government has framed a structure of the authority and named it as 'Renewable Energy Development Authority'. Twelve years have passed, the authority could not yet see the light of the day. A "Draft Renewable Energy Policy" has been submitted by the Power Cell of the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR) which is yet to be approved by the government. At present, there is none to look after renewable energy issues.

Last year, government all on a sudden kept a budget provision of ten million taka for promoting renewable energy technologies. But, there was no attempt from any corner to utilize the money. In the revised budget, the allocation has been dropped without citing any reason. No one was held responsible for that. In the recently declared budget, there is no allocation for renewable energy sector i.e. the issue has permanently been buried. From different experts, organisations, media lots of comments and suggestions on the revised and proposed budget are coming everyday, but none of them raised the issue of renewable energy. This may be due to the fact that, there is none to think of it.

Bangladesh is one the signatories to Millennium Declaration 2000 and committed to ensure access to electricity for all by 2020 and increase its renewable energy share to 10 per cent by the year 2015. The year is not too far. By this time seven years have passed, no notable step has yet been taken except repeating their commitment in different policy documents and public meetings. To remind the governments about their commitment, the international community subsequently arranged two international conferences, one in Bonn in 2004 and the other in Beijing in 2005. Government of Bangladesh participated in both the conferences. The participating countries of the world highlighted their activities, presented documents on their achievements and successes. But, the representatives from Bangladesh were silent observers. They had nothing to present.

The next international conference will be held in Washington DC in March 2008, where the organisers are expecting that, more than 5000 representatives from both government and private sectors of about 150 countries of the world will participate in the conference. This time also, the position of Bangladesh may be ludicrous.

Finally, let us not blame or criticise each other, let us not think of the international community, rather think for a while of our coming days and our next generation. What will happen, when our natural resources are exhausted, when there will be no gas and electricity? If we think with open heart and mind, we must realise that renewable sources of energy are the only way out, which we neglected in the past and are still neglecting, which is wrong.

Conclusion: Government should declare National Renewable Energy Policy and create an organisation to implement the policy to join the race of international community without any lapse of time. It should include the promotion of renewable energy technologies in the priority list of the budget. Government should take short, mid and long term action plan to face ensuing energy crisis.

M A Gofran is Biogas Consultant, Grameen Shakti.