ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the assumption that energy planning for rural areas should be considered part of national energy planning and aimed to achieve national rural development goals. It reviews Bangladesh energy policy studies, providing a context for comparison with studies to assess local energy needs and technology potential. The chapter examines the role of microregion studies in identifying factors associated with specific variations in rural energy use, and focuses on two in-depth studies in rural areas. It describes critically the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies with the objective of providing a guideline for future rural energy studies. The chapter explores the need and resource assessment for technology development by application of microstudy findings to biogas development. The objective of rural energy studies should be not only to estimate energy supply and demand but also to develop a system that is socially and culturally acceptable to meet future needs.
