Danish firm signs wind power deal

Danish wind turbine technology provider Vestas is planning to start a wind power project to help Bangladesh achieve its national vision of providing electricity to all by 2021.

Vestas and US-DK Green Energy (BD) Ltd (UDGEL) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) in Singapore recently to collaborate on wind energy in Bangladesh, a press release of Danish Embassy in Dhaka said today, Wednesday.

The National Energy Policy of Bangladesh has set the target that five per cent of the total power generation is to come from renewable energy by 2015 and 10% by 2020.

Denmark was the first country to install wind turbines more than 30 years ago.

At about 33% of Denmark's electricity is provided by wind turbines and Danish technology and know-how is the base of one in every three wind turbines in operation worldwide.

By entering into this MOU, Vestas and UDGEL expressed their interest in exploring collaboration opportunities to develop wind power projects in Bangladesh.

On the occasion, Ambassador of Denmark to Bangladesh Hanne Fugl Eskjaer welcomed this initiative and hoped that this positive step will lead to further co-operation in renewable energy between the two countries.

President of Vestas Asia Pacific & China Chris Beaufait said, "With our global expertise in wind and site identification, electrical pre-design, transportation, installation, supply, erection, service, and financing assistance, I believe Vestas is able to help our customers in Bangladesh shape a competitive edge in an untapped market".

Director of UDGEL Sajid Rahman says, "We see a great potential within the market for wind energy. As a renewable energy pioneer in Bangladesh, we want to partner with the best in the industry in order to develop a world-class wind farm based on Vestas' extensive experiences.

Ambassador of Denmark to Singapore Berit Basse and High Commissioner of Bangladesh to Singapore Mahbub Uz Zaman were both present at the signing-ceremony at the Vestas office in Singapore.