Meta Data
Draft: 
No
Revision of previous policy?: 
No
Draft Year: 
2008
Effective Start Year: 
2008
Scope: 
National
Document Type: 
Overarching Policy
Economic Sector: 
Energy, Power
Energy Types: 
Power, Gas, Nuclear, Renewable, Bioenergy, Geothermal, Hydropower, Solar, Wave and Tidal, Wind
Issued by: 
Power Division Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
Overall Summary: 
The Renewable Energy Policy issued by the Government of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, defines the necessity for the country to develop renewable energy technology. Indeed, in Bangladesh efficient utilization of renewable energy resources is yet to assume commercial dimensions and hence rational policy dissemination on renewable energy usage is essential. The renewable energy includes solar, wind, biomass, hydro, geo-thermal, tidal wave. The following content is explored in the policy: objectives, institutional arrangements, resource technology and programme development, investments and fiscal incentives and regulatory policy.
Access
Bi-, multi-lateral mechanisms to expand access: 
In addition to commercial lending, a network of micro-credit support system will be established especially in rural and remote areas to provide financial support for purchases of renewable energy equipment.
Consumer subsidies: 
In addition to commercial lending, a network of micro-credit support system will be established especially in rural and remote areas to provide financial support for purchases of renewable energy equipment.---Electricity distributors may offer “green energy” tariffs, which provide consumers an opportunity to co-finance through their electricity bills the development of new renewable energy sources.
Renewable Energy
RE priorities: 
Promote appropriate, efficient and environment friendly use of renewable energy. --- Solar Thermal Power/Concentrating Solar Power (CSP): [...] This technology needs to be disseminated in the country to supplement the power supply.--- Develop sustainable energy supplies to substitute indigenous non-renewable energy supplies. --- Scale up contributions of renewable energy both to electricity and to heat energy. --- Create enabling environment and legal support to encourage the use of renewable energy. --- Harness the potential of renewable energy resources and dissemination of renewable energy technologies in rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
RE targets: 
Achieve the targets for developing renewable energy resources to meet five percent of the total power demand by 2015 and ten percent by 2020.
RE action plans: 
Scaling-up of solar PV systems assisted by the development partners are being implemented through Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL), Rural Electrification Board (REB), Local Government Engineering Department (LGED), Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), NGOs and Private Organizations implementing solar energy program. --- SEDA, in co-operation with local government offices, will set up an outreach program to develop renewable energy programs.
RE heat obligation/mandate: 
To promote solar water heaters, use of electricity and gas for water heating will be discouraged. In this regard necessary steps will be considered accordingly.
RE capital subsidy, grant, or rebate: 
In addition to commercial lending, a network of micro-credit support system will be established especially in rural and remote areas to provide financial support for purchases of renewable energy equipment. --- SEDA will consider providing subsidies to utilities for installation of solar, wind, biomass or any other renewable/clean energy projects.
RE reductions in taxes: 
To prompt renewable energy in power sector, all renewable energy equipments and related raw materials in producing renewable energy equipments will be exempted from charging 15% VAT. SEDA or power division of the MPEMR or its assignee until SEDA is formed, will fix up the acceptable mechanism to reach the benefits of tax exemption to end users in consultation with NBR. --- Renewable energy project investors both in public and private sectors shall be exempted from corporate income tax for a period of 5 years from the date of notification of this policy in the official gazette and it will be extended periodically following impact assessment of tax exemption on renewable energy.
RE public awareness/promotional programmes: 
Train; facilitate the use of renewable energy at every level of energy usage.
Public investment loans or grants: 
In addition to commercial lending, a network of micro-credit support system will be established especially in rural and remote areas to provide financial support for purchases of renewable energy equipment.
Environment
Carbon markets: 
Develop financing mechanisms and facilities by using grant, subsidy and/or carbon/CDM fund for public and private sector investments in all forms of sustainable energy.
Green finance: 
Develop financing mechanisms and facilities by using grant, subsidy and/or carbon/CDM fund for public and private sector investments in all forms of sustainable energy.
Pricing
Renewable energy subsidies: 
In addition to commercial lending, a network of micro-credit support system will be established especially in rural and remote areas to provide financial support for purchases of renewable energy equipment. --- SEDA will consider providing subsidies to utilities for installation of solar, wind, biomass or any other renewable/clean energy projects.---Develop financing mechanisms and facilities by using grant, subsidy and/or carbon/CDM fund for public and private sector investments in all forms of sustainable energy
Energy pricing: 
Electricity distributors may offer “green energy” tariffs, which provide consumers an opportunity to co-finance through their electricity bills the development of new renewable energy sources.
Energy Supply and Infrastructure
Infrastructure development priorities: 
Harness the potential of renewable energy resources and dissemination of renewable energy technologies in rural, peri-urban and urban areas.
Investment
Financial incentives for energy infrastructure: 
Existing renewable energy financing facility shall be expanded that is capable of accessing public, private, donor, carbon emission trading (CDM) and carbon funds and providing financing for renewable energy investments.
Tax and duty exemptions for energy equipment: 
To prompt renewable energy in power sector, all renewable energy equipments and related raw materials in producing renewable energy equipments will be exempted from charging 15% VAT. SEDA or power division of the MPEMR or its assignee until SEDA is formed, will fix up the acceptable mechanism to reach the benefits of tax exemption to end users in consultation with NBR. --- Renewable energy project investors both in public and private sectors shall be exempted from corporate income tax for a period of 5 years from the date of notification of this policy in the official gazette [...].
Investment climate development: 
Enable, encourage and facilitate both public and private sector investment in renewable energy projects. ---Renewable energy project investors both in public and private sectors shall be exempted from corporate income tax for a period of 5 years from the date of notification of this policy in the official gazette [...].---Develop financing mechanisms and facilities by using grant, subsidy and/or carbon/CDM fund for public and private sector investments in all forms of sustainable energy.
Public Private Partnerships: 
Private sector participation including joint venture initiatives in renewable energy development will be encouraged and promoted.
Governance
Energy management principles: 
Create enabling environment and legal support to encourage the use of renewable energy.
National policy structure: 
Power Division of MPEMR and SEDA, in consultation with BERC will create a regulatory framework encouraging generation of electricity from renewable energy sources.
Energy institutional structures: 
An institution, Sustainable Energy Development Agency (SEDA), shall be established under the Companies Act, 1994, as a focal point for sustainable energy development and promotion, ‘sustainable energy’ comprising renewable energy and energy efficiency. SEDA Board will comprise of representatives of stakeholders including business community, academics and/or representative from Bangladesh Solar Energy Society, NGOs, financial institutions and implementing agencies. --- Power Division of MPEMR will facilitate investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency projects.
Technology
Clean energy technology priorities: 
Promote clean energy for CDM. --- Promote development of local technology in the field of renewable energy.