The Department for Energy and Climate Change has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangladesh government on energy research.
The partnership has also been signed with the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), which will issue a call for collaborative research projects on low carbon energy for development in the summer.
UK universities and institutes will partner with colleagues in Bangladesh to develop research projects on renewable energy, and work relating to energy technologies, systems, services and policies.
Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “International collaboration on research is vital to make renewable energy viable for developing countries and help tackle climate change.”
Mr Barker added: “Through the memorandum of understanding, not only can we offer our world-leading expertise in sustainable energy solutions but we can also learn valuable lessons from countries that are undergoing rapid change.”
Professor David Delphy, CEO of EPSRC, said: “This presents a fantastic opportunity for leading researchers in the UK and Bangladesh to work together to tackle this global issue. This cooperative approach will enhance the impact made by UK energy research.”
Andree Carter, director of UK Collaborative on Development Sciences (UKCDS), “This is a really important milestone for scientific collaboration between the UK and Bangladesh and an excellent model for future collaborations with Bangladesh and other countries.”
Access to energy services is a pre-condition for development and Bangladesh, despite its vulnerability to climate change, has been experiencing sustained economic growth for more than a decade.
The research created through the memorandum also plans to assist the upcoming choices on the kind of energy infrastructure Bangladesh implement to meet its ever increasing energy needs. With the links between universities and British industry, a closer relationship may lead to future contracts for UK energy firms and those manufacturing power solutions.
