Oct 12, 2026
| Syed Shukur Ali Shuvo
Solar power can save around Tk 5–6 per unit compared to grid electricity while helping protect the environment.
The government is committed to promoting renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
“If individuals can install solar panels for their own use, can save at least Tk 5-6 against per unit. Households with higher energy consumption can also cut their electricity bills,” said Shafiqul Alam, lead energy analyst of Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA).
He said that industries usually pay between Tk 11.45 and Tk 16.06 per unit (kWh) for grid connected electricity during the day time while the cost of generating electricity from rooftop solar systems is Tk 4–5 per unit. Cost of land-based solar power is Tk 8–9 per unit. The average cost is estimated at Tk 6.50 per unit when land, transmission and other infrastructure facilities are provided by the government. With those facilities, the cost rises to Tk 9 per unit.
The Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) said that Bangladesh currently has 1,871.5 MW of renewable energy generation capacity, of which 1,578.415 MW comes from solar energy. Of the total solar power capacity, 1,200.94 MW is on-grid, while 377.47 MW is off-grid.
He said solar power generated from rooftop installations can be used directly by households and businesses, reducing the amount of electricity they need to purchase from the national grid. Depending on installation costs, financing arrangements, maintenance expenses and electricity consumption patterns, users may achieve significant long-term savings.
The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) sources said the production cost of electricity from coal is Tk 13.13 per unit, while electricity generated from furnace oil costs Tk 27.40 per unit. Domestic gas-fired power generation costs approximately Tk 7.09 per unit.
Talking to BSS, Shahidul Islam, director of the Mati Agrivoltaic project in Huzuri Kanda village of Nokla upazila in Sherpur district, said the project had installed two solar power units with a combined generation capacity of 35.3 kilowatts to support a safe food processing centre, irrigation and office operations.
“A 26.5-kilowatt solar panel system was installed to serve the safe food processing centre, while an 8.8-kilowatt system was installed to power irrigation pumps and meet office needs. On average, the system generates around 50 percent of its total 35.3-kilowatt capacity per day. There is no load-shedding,” he said.
Islam said the total cost of the solar panel systems was Tk 30 lakh for an estimated lifespan of 25 years. He added, “We estimate the cost at Tk 3.5 per unit, excluding maintenance and spare parts, while the cost in India and Pakistan ranges from Tk 3.5 to Tk 4 per unit.”
According to a case study, a household installing a rooftop solar system with storage capacity equivalent to approximately nine hours of electricity consumption could achieve an estimated electricity cost of Tk 7.43 per unit over 20 years by consuming the electricity it generates.
Besides, the government recently had reduced import tax on eligible solar power equipment and components to 1 percent for a limited period of 180 days, aiming to lower costs and accelerate the expansion of solar power generation.
The government also introduced incentives to encourage rooftop solar installations with battery storage offered supply of surplus electricity to the national grid at Tk 10.50 per unit, which would reduce electricity costs and help protect the environment by lowering dependence on fossil fuels.
Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN) Chief Executive and energy expert Hasan Mehedi said rooftop solar and other renewable energy projects could significantly reduce Bangladesh's reliance on imported fuel.
“Solar power appears to be a key-solution to Bangladesh’s security as the volatile Middle Eastern situation continues to severely disrupt the global petroleum supplies, prompting experts to seek an intensified government campaign for clean energy,” he said.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman targeted to generate at least 20 percent of the country’s total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2040. Under the government's National Renewable Energy Development Strategy for 2026-2030, the country aims to generate 5,500MW from ground-mounted solar projects by 2030.
BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim said that the BPDB signed agreements with 12 independent power producers (IPPs) to generate 918MW of solar electricity at Tk 9.12 per kilowatt-hour expecting by 2028 to this end.
“We also undertook various projects totalling 689MW of grid-connected solar capacity using its own financing. These projects are expected to come into operation by 2030,” he said.
The solar power is expected to help diversify the country's energy mix, improve energy security and reduce exposure to fluctuations in international fossil fuel prices.
Bangladesh is pursuing renewable energy expansion to meet rising electricity demand while supporting sustainable economic growth and reducing environmental pollution.
The government rigorously enforced mandatory rooftop solar installation requirements for new commercial, industrial, and public-sector buildings, particularly for facilities with electrical loads exceeding 10 kw. Commercial banks were asked to encourage introducing concessional financing schemes for rooftop solar projects, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises and urban households to reduce electricity generation cost.
Government subsidies in the power sector exceeded Tk 40,000 crore in the current fiscal year. Against this backdrop, the government has prioritised the renewable energy and set a target of generating 20 percent of the country's total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30–50 percent by 2050 by expanding solar, wind and waste-based power generation.
News Link: Solar power saves Tk 5-6 per unit against grid electricity, offers environmental benefits.