The government has initiated the installation of solar power systems on the rooftops of around 46,000 educational institutions and hospital complexes.
The Power Division signed memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with five other government divisions under three ministries yesterday to implement the project.
Under the initiative, the institutions are expected to collectively generate about 1,454 megawatts (MW) of electricity from sunlight using a total rooftop area of 308 lakh square feet.
All the generated power will be connected to the national grid. As a result, the institutions will be able to generate their own electricity and also supply it to the national grid if they produce more than their requirement.
Joining the signing ceremony at Bidyut Bhaban, Fouzul Kabir Khan, adviser to the Ministry of Power, Energy and Mineral Resources, instructed the authorities concerned to complete all procedures by next February.
“Solar items have become cheaper, and their installation process is like plug and play,” he said, adding that the tender processes for the projects should be completed by December 10.
These projects will be implemented under the supervision of six power distribution companies across the country.
Representatives attending the programme informed the adviser that most of them have already floated tender notices, which will close between late November and early December.
The adviser said there is no other option but to move towards renewable energy amid the shortage of primary energy supply.
“We are trying to import more LNG (liquefied natural gas) as well as emphasising gas exploration. But we have structural limitations in imports, and the results of exploration are not hopeful,” he said.
“Renewables are our way out of the situation. They will not only help save the institutions’ electricity costs but also reduce the overall power generation costs for the government,” he added.
Power Division Secretary Farzana Mamtaz signed the MoUs on behalf of the division, while the secretaries to the Ministry of Primary and Mass Education, the Secondary and Higher Education Division, the Technical and Madrasha Education Division, the Health Services Division, and the Medical Education and Family Welfare Division signed on behalf of their respective sides.
Farzana Mamtaz said the initiative has been taken under the national rooftop solar project, which aims to generate around 20 percent of the country’s total electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040.
The projects will be implemented with private sector involvement, she said.
In addition to their own investments, they will be able to avail themselves of loans at only a 5 percent interest rate from Bangladesh Bank’s refinancing scheme and other commercial banks’ green financing schemes.
Souece: dailystar.net
