Solar power use rises in industries amid gas and electricity crisis

The use of solar power is rapidly increasing in Bangladesh’s industrial and commercial sectors as businesses seek cheaper and more reliable alternatives to grid electricity.

Gas shortages are disrupting captive power generation, while the high cost of diesel generators has made rooftop solar increasingly attractive. More than 600MW of solar capacity has already been installed at industrial facilities, much of it in export-oriented garment factories.

Industry sources said grid electricity costs up to Tk 11.56 per unit, compared with Tk 4�"4.50 under the CAPEX rooftop solar model and Tk 7�"8 under OPEX. This allows industries to save up to more than Tk 7 per unit.

Major groups including PRAN-RFL, Walton, Akij Group, Abul Khair Steel, DBL Group, Ha-Meem Group, BSRM, Youngone Group and Meghna Group have already installed rooftop solar systems.

PRAN-RFL currently generates 35MW across 20 factories and plans to exceed 100MW. Akij Bashir Group generates 75MW and is adding another 28MW. Omera Solar has installed 130�"140MW across around 100 industrial facilities.

Industry leaders are calling for tax incentives and long-term, low-interest loans to make solar systems and batteries more accessible. BGMEA recently surveyed 424 garment factories, with all respondents expressing interest in rooftop solar, though financing remains a major barrier.

According to SREDA, Bangladesh currently has 1,850.01MW of renewable energy capacity, including 1,556.92MW from solar.

The government aims to reach nearly 10,000MW of renewable energy capacity by 2030, with around 5,500MW expected from rooftop solar. Experts believe industries will play a major role in achieving this target.

-AJM