Experts view solar power as one of the most effective solutions to ensure Bangladesh’s energy security, as the global petroleum supply system has been severely disrupted by ongoing instability in the Middle East. They have called upon the government to further intensify its initiatives for promoting clean energy.

Shafiqul Alam, Lead Energy Analyst at the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis (IEEFA), stated that such unexpected situations demonstrate how crucial clean energy is for ensuring energy security and economic resilience.

He noted that clean or green energy is no longer just about reducing carbon emissions to secure energy security and economic stability; rather, it is a strategic necessity that can also ensure sustainable economic growth.

Shafiqul Alam pointed out that countries like China, India, and Pakistan made significant investments in renewable energy, experiencing relatively lower economic impacts from the recent geopolitical instability centered around the Iran conflict.

Energy expert and former Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET), Professor Dr. Ijaz Hossain, described the government's recent budget allocation for renewable energy and the announcement of a 10-year tax-free facility on the import of solar panels as a very positive step.

He stated that this tax facility should be simplified and opened up to all entrepreneurs.

Citing the example of Pakistan, he added that such policy incentives have led to a massive expansion of the solar power sector there.

He mentioned that currently, tax benefits are only available to entrepreneurs of approved projects. General citizens or independent buyers do not receive the same benefits when importing solar panels, which serves as a major barrier to the proliferation of solar energy.

Dr. Ijaz Hossain asserted that the government must increase coordination with the private sector to promote renewable energy, as it is directly linked to energy security, environmental conservation, and sustainable development.

He added that if low-interest loans, the expansion of net metering, incentives for domestic production, and swift project approvals are ensured, a visible transformation will take place in the solar energy sector within the next few years.

Earlier, Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Iqbal Hasan Mahmud stated that the government has set a target to meet 20 percent of the country's total electricity demand from renewable energy sources by 2030, and 30 percent by 2040.

He noted that this target has been set as part of long-term planning to ensure reliable and sustainable electricity supply.

While inaugurating a 1-megawatt rooftop solar power system at the National Parliament House on May 27, Prime Minister Tarique Rahman stated that Bangladesh is steadily moving towards clean energy, a green economy, and a self-reliant energy system.

Engineer Rezaul Karim, Chairman of the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), stated that 1,807.75 megawatts of electricity are currently being generated from renewable sources. A target has been set to scale up this capacity to 10,000 megawatts.

He informed that agreements have been signed with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) to establish 11 solar power projects with a generation capacity of 818 megawatts. These projects are expected to come into production by January 2028. Additionally, tenders have been invited for another 12 solar projects with a generation capacity of 290 megawatts.

According to BPDB data, grid-connected rooftop solar power systems with a total capacity of 5 megawatts are being installed at 19 locations across the country, financed by the proprietary Power Sector Development Fund, and will be connected to the national grid by September of this year.

BPDB officials stated that the government has issued directives to install rooftop solar panels in all government establishments to increase the share of green energy in the power system.

Hasan Mehedi, Chief Executive of the Coastal Livelihood and Environmental Action Network (CLEAN), said that encouraging people at the household level to use rooftop solar power will eliminate the need for massive government investments.

He noted that this will also facilitate the achievement of clean energy targets in accordance with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 7 (SDG-7).

Meanwhile, the Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) is constructing a 100-megawatt solar park in Madarganj, Jamalpur, which is expected to commence production by mid-2027.

Project Director Jahangir Alam Majumdar stated that because the project was initiated during the previous government, it initially faced complexities in securing approval from the interim government.

However, the BPDB Chairman stated that the current government has revived six of the 27 solar projects that were cancelled during the tenure of the interim government. At the same time, the average tariff per unit of electricity has been reduced from 7.80 US cents to an average of 2.5 cents.

The government has announced major tax incentives in the renewable energy sector, notably the imposition of zero duty on the import of solar equipment. The government expects this initiative to help reduce electricity production costs by 25 to 30 percent.

Furthermore, the duration of tax benefits for the production of eco-friendly batteries—particularly lithium-ion, sodium-ion batteries, and battery packs—has been extended until June 2030. A 5 percent tax rebate has also been introduced for those who pay their solar electricity bills through banking channels.

However, many experts believe that the government's initiatives to expand clean energy need to be further intensified. Some suggest that focus should be directed towards meeting a significant portion of the country's annual electricity demand growth of about 7 percent through green energy.

The country's renewable electricity generation capacity has presently reached 1,807.75 megawatts.

Officials stated that as an alternative energy source, construction work on the 2,400-megawatt Rooppur Nuclear Power Plant is progressing rapidly. Nearly 300 megawatts of electricity from this plant are expected to be added to the national grid next month (August). An additional 1,200 megawatts may commence production in January 2027.

Energy ministry officials noted that to implement renewable energy projects on government-owned unused or underutilized land under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) modality, the government issued the "Guidelines for Development of Renewable Energy Projects Using Land Owned by Government Agencies under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Modality, 2026" on April 12.

The objective of this initiative is to swiftly implement renewable energy projects on unused or underutilized government land.

BPDB officials stated that an agreement was signed in May with the Bangladesh Economic Zones Authority (BEZA) to establish a pilot renewable power plant on 412 acres of land in Sonagazi, Feni.

The Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) is prioritizing domestic manufacturing, battery storage systems, competitive electricity trading, and targeted financial and fiscal incentives for investors in the renewable energy sector.

BIDA officials shared that initiatives have been taken to implement two waste-to-energy projects in Dhaka's Aminbagh (Aminbazar) and Matuail. These projects will generate 42.5 megawatts and 221 megawatts of electricity, respectively. The responsibility for implementing these projects has been assigned to China's CMEC Group and South Korea's B&F Company.

According to updated calculations, they stated that the Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) for solar power in Bangladesh is competitive with gas-based electricity and lower than coal-based electricity. They also expect solar energy production costs to decrease further in the future.

Currently, about 40 percent of the country's total electricity generation relies on natural gas. However, with declining domestic gas production, the government is increasingly forced to rely on imported Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

According to government figures, the country's total renewable energy generation capacity currently stands at 1,807.75 megawatts. Of this, solar power contributes 1,514.66 megawatts, or 83.79 percent. Additionally, 230 megawatts are generated from hydropower and 62 megawatts from wind power.

An official from the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA) stated that over 6 million (60 lakh) Solar Home Systems (SHSs) have been installed in off-grid areas to date, providing electricity access to rural populations.

He mentioned that various solar power plants across the country are already supplying electricity to the national grid, thereby reducing the pressure on conventional power plants.