Using alternative fuels for power plants
Photo: STAR
Without uninterrupted supply of electricity, we cannot even think of running our modern life and continue the overall economic development activities of the country smoothly. Earth's fossil fuels used in electricity generation are getting rapidly exhausted. Advanced countries of the world are doing extensive research to evolve alternatives to fossil fuel (coal, fuel oil, natural gas, etc,) for generating electricity and running vehicles, aeroplanes, etc. Fossil fuels have other disadvantages because burning of these hydrocarbons produces huge amount of Carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that allows radiative forcing and contributes to global warming. As an alternative means, some advanced countries have made significant progress in developing crops for bio fuel. In some countries bio fuel are being used mixing with fossil oil (petroleum). Recently an Emirate's Boeing has made a successful flight with biofuel. In the case of Bangladesh, the state of electricity is rather alarming; a number of gas driven electricity generators are being closed down because of shortage of natural gas supply. To maintain its development and modernization efforts active, Bangladesh needs to find alternative fuels to generate electrical power. Bio fuel may be an effective alternative. In this field instead of involving in basic research, Bangladesh should import technology from abroad and conduct research for their adaptation through necessary modifications. In Bangladesh, there is ample scope for producing electricity through setting up of biogas plants and their proper maintenance. Biogas can be produced not only from cow dung, but also from poultry droppings. In my opinion, we should put more emphasis on organic agriculture which is not only environment-friendly but its products are also healthy and harmless for the humans. In this respect, I think, the government may modify its “One goat, one farm” program to “Two cows, one farm” program so that raw materials for producing biogas plant can be made available in these farms. Further, I think, the Rural Electrification Board may be given the task of setting up biogas electricity generation plants in the rural areas on cooperative basis for reducing the use of fossil fuel electricity.
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