[Attachment(s) from Isha Khan included below]
Re: Smart Grid Is not the solution to power shortage in Bangladesh
Shabbir Bashar
shabbir_bashar@yahoo.com
I write in response to the feature article by Mr. S. I. Ahmed of Ottawa ( 17th March, 2010 http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2010-03-20&hidType=SCI ) professing the benefits of deploying "smart grid" technology in Bangladesh to prevent blackouts. I found the article to be sketchy and repetitious and yet one that fails to describe in a wholesome way how such an energy management technology can address the core issue of acute power shortage in Bangladesh . At best the article addresses only one specific aspect of smart grids: monitoring and control of localized circuit breakers by radio. His article fails to address other integral parts of the technology such as tracking flow of electricity, lower loss transmission lines and the ability for instance to draw energy from multiple sources such as hydro-electric, fossil fuel, solar and wind. What about rationing power so factories, offices, schools and homes don't always draw power simultaneously from the grid?
From what I know, a smart grid system is an upgrade from its century old cousin that simply "broadcast" power from a few centralized generators in a "spoke and wheel" fashion to the consumers. Such a grid is an amalgamation of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple operators employing varying levels of communication and coordination, most of which is manually controlled. Smart grids increase the connectivity, automation and coordination between these suppliers, consumers and networks that perform either long distance transmission or local distribution tasks. It is capable of directing power more optimally in response to a very wide range of conditions and to charge a premium to the peak hour users. In general, it is capable of responding to changing conditions at the points of generation, distribution and demand.
What is critical though, is the speed with which it can react to such changes. Older cousins of the technology would sometimes take up to 24 hours to react to a crisis situation. Sensors, controllers and actuators can communicate in a number of ways based on basic telecom technologies which use copper wires, radio as well as fiber-optics. Mr. Imtiaz's article only talks about radio technology even though many of the Bangladeshi power distribution lines actually have fiber-optic cables already on them. This is somewhat understandable as he heads up a technology company based on use of radio controlled gadgets which form a portion of the overall smart grid technology. From a national perspective, it is unwise to ignore other aspects of energy crisis in Bangladesh that now threatens to hurt significant portions of its ready-made garments workforce according to recent newspaper reports.
The map in Figure 1 shows that the vast majority of power plants are thermal – based on fossil fuels. While it is unfashionable for developed countries to burn coal, for Bangladesh , this is still one of the most viable sources of energy to meet the crisis. Nuclear power is readily used – with adequate safety precautions – in developed countries such as France . Other forms of energy such as bio-mass and solar power simply do not have the volume or the efficiency to warrant an immediate switch-over. Thus, the most significant practical problem remains that of efficient power transmission which is agnostic to the source of energy.
It is seen that a significant portion, particularly the south, lacks any connection to the grid. Less than 30% of the existing and planned transmission lines are only capable of carrying power at 230kV whereas the rest carry at 132kV. In terms of distribution, this amounts to a heat loss that is 3 times greater in the lower capacity lines. Put another way, if a unit of power were to be transported from Comilla to Chittagong on a 230kV line instead of a 132kV transmission line, the losses would be a third allowing the two-thirds to reduce the overall energy crisis.
Shabbir Bashar
shabbir_bashar@yahoo.com
I write in response to the feature article by Mr. S. I. Ahmed of Ottawa ( 17th March, 2010 http://www.bangladesh-web.com/view.php?hidDate=2010-03-20&hidType=SCI ) professing the benefits of deploying "smart grid" technology in Bangladesh to prevent blackouts. I found the article to be sketchy and repetitious and yet one that fails to describe in a wholesome way how such an energy management technology can address the core issue of acute power shortage in Bangladesh . At best the article addresses only one specific aspect of smart grids: monitoring and control of localized circuit breakers by radio. His article fails to address other integral parts of the technology such as tracking flow of electricity, lower loss transmission lines and the ability for instance to draw energy from multiple sources such as hydro-electric, fossil fuel, solar and wind. What about rationing power so factories, offices, schools and homes don't always draw power simultaneously from the grid?
From what I know, a smart grid system is an upgrade from its century old cousin that simply "broadcast" power from a few centralized generators in a "spoke and wheel" fashion to the consumers. Such a grid is an amalgamation of multiple networks and multiple power generation companies with multiple operators employing varying levels of communication and coordination, most of which is manually controlled. Smart grids increase the connectivity, automation and coordination between these suppliers, consumers and networks that perform either long distance transmission or local distribution tasks. It is capable of directing power more optimally in response to a very wide range of conditions and to charge a premium to the peak hour users. In general, it is capable of responding to changing conditions at the points of generation, distribution and demand.
What is critical though, is the speed with which it can react to such changes. Older cousins of the technology would sometimes take up to 24 hours to react to a crisis situation. Sensors, controllers and actuators can communicate in a number of ways based on basic telecom technologies which use copper wires, radio as well as fiber-optics. Mr. Imtiaz's article only talks about radio technology even though many of the Bangladeshi power distribution lines actually have fiber-optic cables already on them. This is somewhat understandable as he heads up a technology company based on use of radio controlled gadgets which form a portion of the overall smart grid technology. From a national perspective, it is unwise to ignore other aspects of energy crisis in Bangladesh that now threatens to hurt significant portions of its ready-made garments workforce according to recent newspaper reports.
The map in Figure 1 shows that the vast majority of power plants are thermal – based on fossil fuels. While it is unfashionable for developed countries to burn coal, for Bangladesh , this is still one of the most viable sources of energy to meet the crisis. Nuclear power is readily used – with adequate safety precautions – in developed countries such as France . Other forms of energy such as bio-mass and solar power simply do not have the volume or the efficiency to warrant an immediate switch-over. Thus, the most significant practical problem remains that of efficient power transmission which is agnostic to the source of energy.
It is seen that a significant portion, particularly the south, lacks any connection to the grid. Less than 30% of the existing and planned transmission lines are only capable of carrying power at 230kV whereas the rest carry at 132kV. In terms of distribution, this amounts to a heat loss that is 3 times greater in the lower capacity lines. Put another way, if a unit of power were to be transported from Comilla to Chittagong on a 230kV line instead of a 132kV transmission line, the losses would be a third allowing the two-thirds to reduce the overall energy crisis.
In fact, a US$100M PGCB project – partly funded by Germany - to build a 230KV transmission line from Comilla North to Hathazari in Chittagong in the mid-nineties saved 84GWh of energy per year on this 80km transmission line alone; the money saved would pay for the project in less than 10 years. This line also has an integrated fiber-optic cable capable of carrying control signals making the radio controlled gadgets obsolete. Incidentally, the project report states that due to complications with payment, a parallel 132kV transmission line was also built which ultimately turned into a failed investment not to mention that it placed a heavy burden on scarce resources during construction.
The point I'm making is Bangladesh not only lacks basic grid reach but also has a very inefficient transmission system. Instead of upgrading and continuing to build new energy efficient networks, we hear about the cabinet shutting down previously sanctioned projects ear marked exactly for that purpose (See Daily Star, March 23rd, 2010 ). Generation, transmission and smart distribution go hand in hand. It is foolish to sacrifice one aspect of energy requirement over another. While gadgets like those proposed by the writer from Canada no doubt stand to improve a small portion of the problem, there is absolutely no justification at this point for Bangladesh to become an "early developer and adopter" of this nascent technology. Until power generation and distribution are adequately addressed, black-outs will remain.
While I agree that no developing nation should depend entirely on foreign nations for expertise, I see nothing wrong with adopting proven technologies. The energy crisis in Bangladesh is a direct result of bad planning, bad implementation and bad decision making at the highest levels. Why should Bangladesh invest its meager resources on researching new technologies when it can benefit greatly from incremental improvements which are much more cost effective? As for manufacturing in Bangladesh, the biggest pitfall is its inability to restructure its taxes on imported raw materials; even though labor is cheap, a Bangladeshi industrialist has very little edge over his/her foreign competitor after paying all the prohibitive taxes. Again, this shows lack of basic foresight on part of the policy makers on how to encourage local industry.
Finally, I think it is unbecoming of a technology company CEO to racially deride another person. The author should also explain why a Bangladeshi based in the west would go back home to put up with the socio-political unrest, discomfort and life insecurity to train his/her compatriots for any less money than the "foreign white skinned consultant engineer"? The writer on his biography claims to be an Electrical Engineering graduate of BUET yet on his company website, he describes himself as a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa , Canada . So why is someone seemingly so proud of his Bangladeshi heritage deliberately trying to hide his academic training from that country? This is exactly the sort of cheap "patriotism" and "sentimentalism" void of practical forethought which sadly makes an otherwise informative and thought provoking article rather irritating.
Shabbir A. Bashar, PhD
Vancouver , USA
The point I'm making is Bangladesh not only lacks basic grid reach but also has a very inefficient transmission system. Instead of upgrading and continuing to build new energy efficient networks, we hear about the cabinet shutting down previously sanctioned projects ear marked exactly for that purpose (See Daily Star, March 23rd, 2010 ). Generation, transmission and smart distribution go hand in hand. It is foolish to sacrifice one aspect of energy requirement over another. While gadgets like those proposed by the writer from Canada no doubt stand to improve a small portion of the problem, there is absolutely no justification at this point for Bangladesh to become an "early developer and adopter" of this nascent technology. Until power generation and distribution are adequately addressed, black-outs will remain.
While I agree that no developing nation should depend entirely on foreign nations for expertise, I see nothing wrong with adopting proven technologies. The energy crisis in Bangladesh is a direct result of bad planning, bad implementation and bad decision making at the highest levels. Why should Bangladesh invest its meager resources on researching new technologies when it can benefit greatly from incremental improvements which are much more cost effective? As for manufacturing in Bangladesh, the biggest pitfall is its inability to restructure its taxes on imported raw materials; even though labor is cheap, a Bangladeshi industrialist has very little edge over his/her foreign competitor after paying all the prohibitive taxes. Again, this shows lack of basic foresight on part of the policy makers on how to encourage local industry.
Finally, I think it is unbecoming of a technology company CEO to racially deride another person. The author should also explain why a Bangladeshi based in the west would go back home to put up with the socio-political unrest, discomfort and life insecurity to train his/her compatriots for any less money than the "foreign white skinned consultant engineer"? The writer on his biography claims to be an Electrical Engineering graduate of BUET yet on his company website, he describes himself as a graduate of Carleton University in Ottawa , Canada . So why is someone seemingly so proud of his Bangladeshi heritage deliberately trying to hide his academic training from that country? This is exactly the sort of cheap "patriotism" and "sentimentalism" void of practical forethought which sadly makes an otherwise informative and thought provoking article rather irritating.
Shabbir A. Bashar, PhD
Vancouver , USA
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