The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) is expected to receive approval from the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) this week for a 442-megawatt (MW) grid-connected solar power project at Rampal in Bagerhat. This significant renewable energy initiative aims to contribute to Bangladesh's goal of meeting 20 percent of its annual electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030. The project, which has already received approval from the Planning Commission and the Project Evaluation Committee (PEC), will be constructed beside the existing 1,320-MW coal-fired power plant at Rampal. The solar photovoltaic (PV) plant will be developed on 918.5 acres of unused land previously acquired for a coal-fired power project.
BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim stated that the project will be implemented in phases starting from 2028. The project is estimated to cost Tk 2,502.4 crore and will be funded through the Power Development Fund. Major site development works, including land filling and boundary protection, have already been completed, which is expected to reduce construction costs and shorten the implementation period compared with a greenfield project. A feasibility study by the Infrastructure Investment Facilitation Company (IIFC) found that the existing site infrastructure would significantly lower construction expenses.
The solar plant will be connected to the national grid through a new 230-kilovolt transmission system linked to the nearby Bangladesh-India Friendship Power Company Limited (BIFPCL) substation. The project is expected to add clean electricity to the national grid, reduce carbon emissions, and lessen Bangladesh's dependence on imported fossil fuels. It is also anticipated to help reduce environmental pressure on the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest. The initiative aligns with Bangladesh's commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023.
FAQs
{"question":"What is the expected tariff for the Rampal solar project?","answer":"The Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) expects the Rampal solar project to offer a competitive tariff of Tk 6.18 per unit, which is around 43 percent lower than the estimated Tk 8.87 per unit tariff of the proposed 220-MW solar plant at Sonagazi in Feni."}
{"question":"How will the Rampal solar project be funded?","answer":"The Rampal solar project will be funded through the Power Development Fund."}
{"question":"What are the environmental benefits of the Rampal solar project?","answer":"The Rampal solar project is expected to reduce carbon emissions, lessen Bangladesh's dependence on imported fossil fuels, and help reduce environmental pressure on the ecologically sensitive Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest."}
{"question":"How does the Rampal solar project align with Bangladesh's energy goals?","answer":"The Rampal solar project aligns with Bangladesh's target of meeting 20 percent of its annual electricity demand from renewable sources by 2030. It also supports the country's commitments under the Paris Agreement, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023."}
