Perspective on Analytical Frame, Methodology and Influencing Factors on Demand Forecasting
Authors: Khondaker Golam Moazzem, Helen Mashiyat Preoty
The new Power and Energy System Master Plan (PESMP) is on the process of drafting by the Ministry of Power Energy and Mineral Resources (MoPEMR). The new PSEMP aims to promote a low or zero-carbon transformation of the total energy supply and demand system. The successive PSMPs (2005, 2010 and 2016) have been criticised to have an inappropriate demand projection which led to different types of challenges. The paper reviews the successive PSMPs (PSMP 2005, 2010 and 2016) to find out the methodological weaknesses and suggests the alternative methodology for demand-side analysis of the power sector for the new plan. Based on the literature of developing countries and the findings of the key informant interviews (KIIs) the paper finds that Bangladesh needs to consider a sound methodology for proper forecasting of electricity demand. A number of methods which are methodologically well-recognised and applied to different countries such as bottom-up approach which could be more appropriate in the context of Bangladesh to forecast the power demand in the PESMP 2021. This paper concludes with a number of recommendations for the next PESMP.