Bangladesh Identifies 132.28 MWp Rooftop Solar Potential

Bangladesh has an estimated 132.28 megawatt-peak (MWp) potential for rooftop solar power installations across public universities, colleges, Rajshahi City Corporation and Shailkupa Municipality in Jhenaidah, according to a survey by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB). The organisation has called for public-private partnerships, effective policies and a supportive investment environment to turn this potential into renewable electricity generation and employment opportunities.

CAB released the findings at a public dialogue held on Wednesday, October 28, at the Shafiqul Kabir Auditorium of the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU). The event also featured proposals to use household electricity consumption data as an initial indicator for identifying potentially poor families and to reassess support for lifeline consumers while improving the reliability of power supply.

Rooftop solar potential across four areas

The survey assessed rooftop solar potential in four categories. It identified a possible capacity of 52.50 MWp across 31 public universities, 51.12 MWp across 150 colleges, 24.60 MWp in Rajshahi City Corporation and 4.06 MWp in Shailkupa Municipality. Together, these areas have an estimated rooftop solar potential of 132.28 MWp.

CAB said the opportunities could be developed through local public-private partnerships. Such projects could increase renewable power generation and create jobs. However, realising the potential will require investment security, transparent long-term contracts, effective regulatory arrangements and a skilled workforce.

Alamgir Kabir, general secretary of the Bangladesh Poribesh Andolon (BAPA), said renewable energy was essential to addressing the risks of climate change. He called for effective government policies and incentives to expand its use in Bangladesh, adding that young people should be encouraged to take part in local rooftop solar initiatives.

Shihab Uddin, a faculty member at Stamford University Bangladesh, said the survey highlighted the country’s significant solar power potential. He stressed the need for investment security, transparent long-term agreements, effective regulation and skilled personnel. He added that his university was already training students in solar panel installation and energy audits, and that similar initiatives should be expanded nationwide.

Electricity affordability and reliability remain concerns

The survey covered 556 households—334 in Rajshahi City Corporation and 222 in Shailkupa Municipality—to examine changes in electricity use and household living conditions.

According to the findings, 89% of households believe electricity has improved their quality of life. However, 69% said electricity bills had become a greater burden relative to their income. Meanwhile, 55% rated the reliability of electricity supply as poor or very poor.

Electricity consumption increased over the past decade in 85% of surveyed households, while 77% reported an increase in the number and variety of electrical appliances they owned. Refrigerator ownership rose from 10% to 40%, while television ownership increased from 34% to 48%.

The survey also found that 76% of households believed electricity had improved the conditions for studying, while 97% of respondents said they felt safer at night because of electricity.

While the findings demonstrate electricity’s social benefits, they also highlight the need for affordable bills and reliable supply. CAB recommended reassessing the level and distribution of support for lifeline consumers and taking steps to improve supply reliability.

Proposal to identify potentially poor households

CAB proposed piloting household electricity consumption data as an initial indicator for identifying potentially poor families. The organisation said regular meter-reading data could help identify households with low consumption, which could then be assessed alongside other socioeconomic information.

Its proposed 12-point action plan includes piloting the method, defining responsibilities and coordination arrangements, verifying the relationship between meters and actual households, collecting 12 consecutive months of actual electricity consumption data, validating consumption thresholds using local information and testing the approach in representative areas. CAB also recommended establishing an independent benchmark and defining evaluation criteria in advance.

Speakers cautioned against determining poverty solely by the amount of electricity a household uses. Many people in remote and river-island areas still lack access to electricity, while some low-income families share electricity connections. Low consumption therefore cannot be treated as conclusive proof of poverty. Field verification and other socioeconomic indicators would be needed to avoid wrongly excluding eligible families.

CAB estimated that the approach could potentially save expenditure associated with projects worth Tk 26.99 billion under the Ministry of Social Welfare and Tk 2.16 billion under the Ministry of Finance. These figures represent projected savings, however, and the method would need to be tested for accuracy, inclusiveness and effectiveness before any such benefits could be established.

Calls for accountability and effective policy

Ruhul Kabir Rizvi, acting secretary general of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and political adviser to the prime minister, attended the dialogue as chief guest. He said stronger accountability in the power sector would reduce opportunities for irregularities. He added that accountability across sectors and institutions was essential to building a democratic society.

Rizvi noted that despite claims of nationwide electricity access, many people in remote and river-island areas remained without electricity. He said poverty assessments should consider actual living conditions alongside electricity consumption statistics. Research should raise new questions and ideas, he added, and statistical findings should be verified rather than treated as unquestionable facts.

On rooftop solar, Rizvi said the renewable energy sector offered substantial investment opportunities. Supplying surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting local demand could increase generation and create jobs. He also pointed to opportunities to pursue alternative energy sources amid the global energy crisis.

Alamgir Kabir of BAPA reiterated that effective policies and incentives were needed to expand renewable energy. Researcher and journalist Kajol Rashid Shaheen said the proposal to use electricity consumption data for poverty identification was timely but required transparency and accountability to prevent eligible households from being wrongly excluded. Researcher Anis Raihan also emphasised transparency and accountability in the power sector.

CAB outlines three recommendations

CAB presented three key recommendations at the dialogue: pilot household electricity consumption as an initial indicator for identifying poor families as an alternative to costly government projects; expand rooftop solar through local public-private partnerships; and reassess support for lifeline consumers, including the level and distribution of assistance, while improving electricity supply reliability.

The event was chaired by CAB General Secretary Humayun Kabir Bhuiyan and moderated by the organisation’s research coordinator, engineer Shubho Kibria. CAB energy adviser Professor M. Shamsul Alam presented the main paper. Representatives from government, policymaking, research, academia and journalism attended the dialogue. CAB pledged to continue research and advocacy on the issues.

//DBTech/JNR/MPS/FOE//