Arlington, VA – Today, the U.S. Trade and Development Agency announced it has awarded grant funding to Power Cell, a policy and planning agency under the Government of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, to advance the deployment of smart grid technology for the country’s power grid. Power Cell selected Massachusetts-based Boston Consulting Group to carry out the assistance.
“USTDA’s assistance will support the creation of a more efficient and dynamic power grid that will facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources and strengthen the delivery of electricity to the people of Bangladesh,” said Enoh T. Ebong, USTDA’s Director. “Our partnership with Power Cell will enable Bangladesh to decide the most appropriate path and technologies for its smart grid infrastructure development. U.S. companies are world leaders in this sector and will be eager to partner with Bangladesh on its priorities.”
USTDA’s study will develop implementation plans for smart grid pilot projects with Dhaka Power Distribution Company and Power Grid Company of Bangladesh. It will also recommend three smart grid investment priorities to benefit the entirety of Bangladesh’s transmission and distribution grid, as well as develop a training strategy to enable utilities to successfully operate and manage their smart grid technologies. These priorities are based on the recommendations of Power Cell’s 10-year smart grid technology roadmap, which USTDA funded in 2022.
“The first phase of this project showed us a path towards implementation of smart grid in Bangladesh power sector and identified the gaps in our system” said Mohammad Hossain, Director General of Power Cell. “Now, this extended support from USTDA will give us the confidence to successfully implement the project. We thank USTDA for this immense collaboration and support.”
“We all understand that renewable resources are the key for energy transition for Bangladesh, for South Asia, and for the world,” said Helen LaFave, Deputy Chief of Mission of the U.S. Embassy in Dhaka. “This grant will help Bangladesh prepare for its energy transition and prepare to integrate more intermittent energy resources into its national grid.”
This activity advances the goals of USTDA’s Global Partnership for Climate-Smart Infrastructure, which connects U.S. industry to major clean transport and energy infrastructure projects in emerging markets. USTDA’s grant also advances the goals of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, to close the infrastructure gap in emerging economies.
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The U.S. Trade and Development Agency helps companies create U.S. jobs through the export of U.S. goods and services for priority infrastructure projects in emerging economies. USTDA links U.S. businesses to export opportunities by funding project preparation and partnership building activities that develop sustainable infrastructure and foster economic growth in partner countries.
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