We produce our own vegetables and fish, so why not our own electricity? The government only needs to create an enabling environment, and renewable energy is now non-negotiable Dipal C Barua Chairman, Bright Green Energy Foundation Bangladesh needs about $2 billion of investment, along with careful planning and skilled workers, to achieve the target of installing 4,000 megawatts (MW) of rooftop solar capacity within a year, according to energy specialists. While speaking at a discussion at The Daily Star Centre yesterday, they said households will need stronger financial incentives to take up solar, because monthly instalments for a system can exceed their current electricity bills. The government has announced a rate of Tk 10.50 per kilowatt-hour for surplus electricity that rooftop systems supply to the national grid. But the speakers questioned how many households have enough roof space to generate a surplus worth the investment. The event, titled “Rooftop Solar: Is adding 4,000MW in a year viable?”, was the ninth in The Daily Star’s “Business & Beyond” series. It took place as the conflict in the Middle East has jeopardised global energy supplies, leaving the government scrambling for clean and renewable alternatives. Dipal C Barua, founder and chairman of the...

YouTube video by Lynx Raide