Wind Energy

Bangladesh to set up 100-200 MW offshore wind power plant

According to official sources, the decision was made as part of the government’s strategy to develop the wind energy sector. At present, 86 percent electricity is generated from gas-fired power plants while the rest comes mainly from liquid fuel. A very small amount of electricity is also being generated through solar power system.

"Diversification of energy sources is one of the main strategies of the government to resolve power crisis," Power Secretary Abul Kalam Azad told UNB, justifying the recent decision.

Wind energy as a power source is an attractive alternative to fossil fuel, because it is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed and clean, and it produces no greenhouse gas emissions. However, the construction of wind farms is not universally welcomed because of their visual impact.

Compared to onshore wind power, offshore wind turbines are more complex and costly to install and maintain, but also has several key advantages. Winds are typically stronger and more stable at sea, resulting in significantly higher production per unit installed. Wind turbines can also be bigger in the offshore than on land because it is easier to transport very large turbine components by sea.

Many European countries, including United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany and Holland are in the advance position to generate wind power.

Two years back, the state-owned Power Development Board (PDB) set up a small capacity wind power plant at Kutubdia on a pilot basis. The total capacity of the plant is only one megawatt. A huge number of small turbines and batteries were used to generate and store the electricity at the Kutubdia plant.

But the new plant will be a large scale one and the turbine will be installed on the top of a huge 150 metre tower. Earlier, it was believed that Bangladesh’s wind speed is not suitable for any wind power plant. But inventions of new technologies now offer new wind turbines, which can be suitable for different wind speeds.

Abul Kalam Azad said the Power Division is moving with the idea of wind power plant on the basis of a study carried out by Bangladesh Meteorological Department.

The new study findings show that there are huge potentials for wind power in the country, he added. Sources said that the government would move for setting up more wind farms.

They said different coastal and hill areas are being considered for setting up wind power plants. These areas include Anwara, Cox’s Bazaar, Ramu, Teknuf, Kutubdia and Moheshkhali.

Source: United News of Bangladesh.

www.unbnews.org/