Category: Energy and Power

Global coal demand is forecast to edge down through the end of this decade as competition intensi?es with other power sources – including renewables, natural gas and nuclear – according to the 2025 edition of the IEA’s annual market report. Coal 2025, out recently, explores current market dynamics and provides forecasts through 2030 for demand, supply and trade at the global and regional level. It also examines key trends in investment, costs and pricing.

the report ?nds that global coal demand is on course to rise by 0.5% in 2025, reaching a record 8.85 billion tonnes.

in several major markets, consumption patterns diverged from their recent trends. In India, an early and intense monsoon season resulted in a decline in annual coal use for only the third time in ?ve decades.

in the United States, higher natural gas prices and policy measures that slowed coal plant retirements lifted coal consumption, which had been on a downward trajectory for the previous 15 years.

The Bangladesh Independent Power Producers Association (BIPPA) has expressed profound grief and sorrow at the death of Begum Khaleda Zia, former three-time Prime Minister of Bangladesh and the country’s ?rst female Prime Minister.

in a condolence message, the President of BIPPA prayed for the forgiveness of the departed soul and conveyed deep sympathy to the bereaved family members.

on behalf of all members and the Board of Directors of BIPPA, prayers have been offered for eternal peace of the departed soul.

Wh ile the global fashion demands sustainability, the embassy of Sweden has launched ‘InSPIRE’ – a green transition initiative, to support Bangladesh’s RMG sector pivot to clean energy- turning climate challenges into competitive advantage. Bangladesh’s ready-made garment (RMG) sector-the lifeblood of its economy-stands at a crossroads.

as the country’s economic backbone, generating nearly 80% of export earnings and employing millions, the RMG industry must rapidly transition to cleaner, more energyef?cient production to remain competitive amid tightening global sustainability requirements.

the global brands of fast fashion are tightening sustainability standards while climate risks loom large; the industry faces a stark choice: adapt or fall out of the game. With 15.4% of the country’s greenhouse gas emissions contributed by the RMG industry, the stakes could not be higher. Yet, amid this challenge, a bold initiative is rewriting the script for industrial energy transition. InSPIRE-the Initiative to Stimulate Private Investment for Resource Ef?ciency- implemented by Swisscontact, has a transformative mission: accelerate the adoption of energy ef?ciency and renewable energy solutions in Bangladesh’s garment factories. By blending catalytic ?nancing with technical assistance, InSPIRE is de-risking and incentivising small and mediumsized factories to adopt green technology, while enabling energyservice companies (ESCOs) to scale innovative models.

inSPIRE mobilizes support in the form of a challenge fund modality, where a robust, transparent, and highly competitive selection process for ‘green projects’ is solicited.

the response from industry has been nothing short of remarkable. When InSPIRE opened its ?rst call for proposals in 2025, the program drew 94 applications, signalling a surge of interest in sustainable solutions. From this wave of ideas, the ?rst cohort of nine projects have been marking the kick-start of many more collaborations. On the energy ef?ciency front, factories are retro?tting servo motors, highef?ciency boilers, LED lighting, BLDC fans, advanced HVAC systems, and thermal energy recovery solutions like condensate recovery and G-traps. Renewable energy proposals include large-scale solar PV installations, hybrid systems combining battery storage, and biomass briquette setups-some even introducing pay-as-you-go solar models that could democratize clean energy access. Meanwhile, resource ef?ciency ideas such as low-liquor ratio dyeing machines, zeroliquid discharge ef?uent treatment plants (ZLD-ETP), and rainwater harvesting systems are designed to cut energy use by resource ef?ciency.

together, these projects signal a shift from incremental upgrades to transformative, scalable solutions that can rede?ne sustainability in the RMG sector. What makes this movement compelling is its projected impact.

the ?rst cohort of green projects alone is expected to deliver 14,269 MWh of annual energy savings and renewable generation- enough to power thousands of homes. Of this, 10,208 MWh will come from renewable sources, while 4,061 MWh will be saved through ef?ciency upgrades. The climate dividend? A reduction of 11,883 metric tons of CO2 equivalent every year, comparable to taking 2,500 cars off the road.

these numbers tell a powerful story: sustainability is no longer a cost centre; it’s a competitive advantage.

the sectoral footprint of these projects is just as revealing.

they cut across the very fabric of Bangladesh’s garment ecosystem, with the lion’s share anchored in woven and textile units- responsible for an impressive 10,928 metric tons of CO2e reductions annually. This is followed by washing facilities at 613 metric tons, sweater factories at 183, and accessory units at 159 metric tons of annual CO2e reductions.

it’s clear: sustainability is touching every corner of the garment industry. Behind the scenes, InSPIRE is doing more than funding projects.

through industry engagement events, the initiative is building bridges between garment factories, energy service providers, ?nancial institutions, and energy thought leaders-connections that make technology adoption easier and ?nancing more accessible.

this convening role is critical, especially for smaller factories that often struggle to navigate the complex terrain of green investment. By fostering these linkages, InSPIRE is laying the groundwork for systemic change. While blended ?nance is not a new concept in green transition in Bangladesh, what truly sets InSPIRE apart is the scale of private sector commitment-RMG factories are driving the transition, contributing most of the project investment.

in its ?rst cohort, InSPIRE mobilized 74% of investment from the private sector RMG factories, with the remaining 26% contributing from its challenge fund.

this blended approach not only reduces risk but alsosignals con?dence in the commercial viability of sustainable solutions.

it’s a template that could be replicated across other sectors, amplifying the impact of climate ?nance. Looking ahead, the vision is ambitious, yet achievable.

inSPIRE aims to scale its pipeline, targeting medium and small factories that have historically been left behind in the green transition. By experimenting with consortium-based models-bringing together brands, ?nanciers, and technology providers- the initiative hopes to unlock even greater impact.

the message is clear: sustainability is not a niche; it’s the future of industrial competitiveness.

this transformation is unfolding against the backdrop of a broader partnership between Sweden and Bangladesh, rooted in shared commitments to climate action and sustainable growth. Sweden has long championed renewable energy and resource ef?ciency, and through initiatives like InSPIRE, it is helping Bangladesh’s RMG sector align with global net-zero goals.

the Embassy of Sweden also partners with Swisscontact on PROGRESS-a project that helps garment factories set sustainability goals, craft climate action roadmaps, and build green skills for the future.

the collaboration underscores a powerful truth: climate action and industrial growth are not mutually exclusive-they can, and must, go hand in hand.

as Bangladesh positions itself in the global green economy, the garment industry’s pivot to clean energy is more than an environmental imperative; it’s a strategic move to safeguard jobs, exports, and reputation.

inSPIRE is proving that with the right mix of innovation, alternative ?nance, and collaboration, the sector can turn climate challenges into opportunities. The race toward sustainability has begun- and Bangladesh’s apparel industry is determined to lead

Bangladesh’s lique?ed natural gas (LNG) imports from longterm suppliers will surge to 86 cargoes, up by 53.57 per cent, in 2026 as three long-term sales and purchase agreements (SPAs) become effective from January, sources said.

in 2025, state-run Petrobangla imported a total of 56 LNG cargoes from two long-term suppliers, according to of?cial data from Rupantarita Prakritik Gas Company Ltd (RPGCL).

in the new year, the country will import 56 LNG cargoes from its existing two longterm suppliers – QatarEnergy and OQ Trading – and 30 additional cargoes under three new SPAs: two with QatarEnergy and OQ Trading and one with US-based Excelerate Energy, a senior Petrobangla of?cial said.

The government has renewed efforts to appoint a contractor for the operation and maintenance (OandM) and marine services of Bangladesh’s ?rst singlepoint mooring (SPM) for a ?ve-year period.

the Tk 80-billion facility, a ?agship energy infrastructure project that has remained idle despite being completed more than a year ago, is seen as critical to reducing fuel import costs and improving energy logistics. State-run Bangladesh Petroleum Corporation (BPC) has ?oated an international tender for the second time after scrapping an earlier bid over pricing concerns.

the deadline for bid submission has been set for February 1.

of?cials say the prolonged delay in operationalizing the SPM is forcing the country to incur additional costs by continuing to rely on lighter vessels to transport fuel from offshore tankers.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is set to provide US$881 million to help modernize electricity distribution networks in four divisions, aiming to enhance the reliability and ef?ciency of power supply for nearly 18 million consumers under the Bangladesh Rural Electri?cation Board (BREB).

to this effect, the Power Division has proposed two projects with a combined cost of Tk 152.26 billion to construct and modernize around 49,500-kilometre distribution lines, along with the installation and augmentation of substations, having a total capacity of 3,447 megavoltamperes (MVA). The initiatives aim to introduce Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems and other modernization measures across BREB networks in Rajshahi, Rangpur, Chattogram and Sylhet divisions, of?cials at the Planning Commission (PC) and the Economic Relations Division (ERD) con?rmed.

Stronger government signals and new industry initiatives to support energy storage systems (ESS) in AsiaPaci?c are set to accelerate deployments, creating ripple effects across the battery and lithium market in 2026 as participants eye a new growth engine.

eSS deployment remains uneven across Asia-Paci?c. China accounts for 88pc of the region’s 85GW capacity in 2024, according to industry group Energy Institute.

the remainder is concentrated mainly in Australia and South Korea.

these countries aim to scale up ESS buildout further. China is targeting 180GW of capacity by 2027, while South Korea plans to reach 2.22GW capacity by 2029.

australia has committed A$500mn ($337.75mn) to expanding local battery manufacturing.

other Asian nations are also picking up pace. Vietnam is targeting up to 16.3GW of ESS by 2030, while Malaysia launched its ?rst 400MW auction this year. Governments are increasingly supporting integrated renewables and battery projects.

india and the Philippines awarded such projects this year; Australia is auctioning dispatchable clean power contracts, and Malaysia intends to do this year, according to lawmakers.

The S S Power Limited situated at Banshkhali has threatened to go into shut down from January 16 if their overdue bill is not settled by January 15.

in a letter to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the SS Power Limited said that it would be forced to shut down at least one unit unless overdue payments are settled by January 15.

according to S S Power sources, the total dues amount to Taka 4000 crore.

if the BPDB fails to make payment within the stipulated time, the SS Power would go into shut down. As result, the country could face disruption, raising the risk of load-shedding at the advent of the year 2026. BPDB sources said that even a partial shutdown of the S S coal-?red power plant which regularly generate over 1,200 MW daily, would create an instant supply gap, despite lower electricity demand during the winter season.

Trkiye deployed 4,694 MW of new solar in 2025, according to data from the country’s national transmission system operator TEIAS, taking cumulative solar capacity to 24,795 MW.

although down on the record amount of solar deployed in 2024, 2025’s ?gures represent continued momentum for Trkiye’s solar market, after 3.1 GW was added in the ?rst half of the year and the country surpassed its annual deployment target by the end of June. Unlicensed power plants generating electricity for self-consumption made up 4,175 MW of added solar in 2025 and now account for a total 22,255 MW. Bahadir Sercan Gms, energy analyst at Ember, told pv magazine the share of residential solar in this ?gure is ‘negligibly small’, meaning nearly all of the unlicensed solar capacity in 2025 came from the CandI segment. Gms explained that through most of 2025, businesses bene?ted from a policy mechanism that allowed solar power plants for self-consumption to be located in a different location from the consumption point.

Rosatom’s Fuel Division, managed by TVEL, has launched pilot production at Russia’s ?rst lithiumion energy storage factory, ‘gigafactory’ in the Kaliningrad Region.

the facility marks a major step toward ensuring Russia’s technological independence in advanced energy storage technologies. With an annual production capacity of 4 gigawatthours, the gigafactory is the country’s only large-scale facility producing lithiumion batteries.

it covers the full production cycle, from cell chemistry to ?nished modules and complete battery systems. At full capacity, the plant can produce approximately 1.5 million charging modules or 50,000 traction batteries annually for electric vehicles.

energy storage systems are a rapidly growing sector, used in electric cars, buses, trucks, industrial equipment, logistics, mining, and power infrastructure.

they also support uninterrupted power supply, load balancing, and electricity cost optimization.