Government and state-owned institutions should increase the use of renewable energy, particularly rooftop solar power, to meet rising electricity demand, reduce costs and protect environment, Science, Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology Minister Faqir Mahbub Anam said on Wednesday.
He made the remarks while inaugurating a 1-megawatt rooftop solar power plant at Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited in Khulna, according to a ministry press release.
The minister urged government institutions to utilise unused rooftops and other suitable spaces for solar power generation, saying such initiatives would help reduce electricity costs and ease pressure on the national grid.
He said the government of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman had introduced a six-month tax exemption on imported solar equipment, along with incentives for surplus electricity generated by rooftop solar systems and supplied to the national grid.
Customers supplying surplus rooftop solar power to the grid will receive Tk 10.50 per unit, he said.
Faqir Mahbub Anam also called on institutions to adopt energy-efficient practices and expand their solar generation capacity.
He praised Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited's rooftop solar project as a model that could be replicated by other government and state-owned organisations.
In her presidential remarks, Bilquis Jahan Rimi, secretary of the Posts and Telecommunications Division and chairman of Bangladesh Cable Shilpa Limited, said the project would help reduce the company's electricity costs and contribute to the government's sustainable development goals.
The 1-megawatt plant was built at a cost of Tk 5,15,23,715 and is expected to save around Tk 1.5 million a month in electricity costs.
The company currently requires around 900 kilowatts of electricity. After meeting its own demand, the surplus power generated by the solar plant will be supplied to the national grid.
The investment in the project is expected to be recovered within four years.
Khulna City Corporation Administrator Nazrul Islam Manju, Khulna Divisional Commissioner Md Abdullah Harun and Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Bitaan Kumar Mondal attended the programme.
Managing Director Md Shahidul Islam delivered the welcome address.
