The Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council (BEPRC), which is the proposed apex body of energy and power research, has chalked out its research areas, said sources in the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources.The research areas are power supply, smart cities and communities, smart grids, energy efficiency and conservation, and energy innovation and market uptake. Dr Ahmed Kaikaus, additional secretary of the Power Division and chairman of the proposed research council, said the planned research areas could be expanded in the future. “Initially, we've decided to follow the already stated research areas. New research interests, however, could be included in the future,” he added.
He also said that the energy ministry is in consultation with experts to formulate a plan for establishing an energy and power research institute under the council.
He further said the BEPRC itself will not conduct any research work as it will act as a coordinating body. “We've to establish separate institutes for both renewable and non-renewable energy if we want to conduct research with the fund provided by the council,” he added.
Ahmed Kaikaus said under those institutes, appointments will be given to enthusiastic energy and power researchers, and also to consultants from foreign countries.
The council will conduct the coordination, monitoring and evaluation of research work. It will form an expert panel comprising internationally renowned experts of home and abroad—including scientists, professionals, entrepreneurs and academics—who will provide suggestions and recommendations on conducting research activities. “The council will motivate research and development on power and energy efficiency. It'll also encourage and coordinate the public and private research institutes to carry out research,” said Ahmed Kaikaus.
He also said that the council will collect funds from the government, foreign governments, and donors, and that it will further make earnings from research copyrights and services provided by the council.
Energy sector experts have long been stating that although the country has taken massive development programmes for the power and energy sector, the sector cannot achieve significant progress due to lack of research and development.
Dr M Tamim, professor of petroleum and mineral engineering of BUET, told The Independent that the council's establishment is just the first step of a long process. “The field of energy and power is abuzz with research activities around the world. This is because we'll exhaust our fixed fossil fuel reserves in the near future and the power scenario will be bleak without new innovations and inventions."
M Tamim cited Brazil's example with regard to the usage of of ethanol fuel. He said the enterprise came good because of the long-term vision of the Brazilian government. “It’s hard to come up with a groundbreaking innovation overnight. So the council's chief activity will be to monitor all sorts of research work and patronise them on a priority basis," he added.
He also said the council should have the provision to provide grant to universities as well as to individual researchers.  
It may be mentioned that the ‘Bangladesh Energy and Power Research Council Bill, 2015’ was passed in Parliament in
last January to bring excellence in the power and energy sector through research and development.