We produce our own vegetables and fish, so why not our own electricity? The government only needs to create an enabling environment, and renewable energy is now non-negotiable
Bangladesh needs about $2 billion of investment, along with careful planning and skilled workers, to achieve the target of installing 4,000 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity within a year, according to energy specialists.
While speaking at a discussion at The Daily Star Centre yesterday, they said households will need stronger financial incentives to take up solar, because monthly instalments for a system can exceed their current electricity bills.
The government has announced a rate of Tk 10.50 per kilowatt-hour for surplus electricity that rooftop systems supply to the national grid. But the speakers questioned how many households have enough roof space to generate a surplus worth the investment.
The event, titled “Rooftop Solar: Is adding 4,000MW in a year viable?”, was the ninth in The Daily Star’s “Business & Beyond” series. It took place as the conflict in the Middle East has jeopardised global energy supplies, leaving the government scrambling for clean and renewable alternatives.
Dipal C Barua, founder and chairman of the non-profit Bright Green Energy Foundation, said the country must prioritise decentralized renewable energy alongside conventional power generation to reduce its dependence on imported fuel.
Drawing on his long campaign to bring pollution-free energy to rural communities, he said the push for universal electricity coverage through conventional power slowed the spread of solar home systems, when both could have developed together.