Bangladesh offers rooftop solar incentives to ease power shortages

Business Recorder reported that Bangladesh has introduced a scheme to encourage rooftop solar panels paired with batteries, aimed at easing electricity shortages and lowering reliance on imported fuel. The programme covers systems installed by February 28, 2027. With 175 million people, the country is dealing with its most severe power shortages in several years, worsened by a gas shortfall and worries over global fuel supplies tied to the Iran war.

Eligible owners will get 10.50 taka ($0.086) for each kilowatt-hour of surplus electricity sent to the national grid, paid over three years, according to a government notice. The state has set a cap of 8 taka per unit on generation cost for such rooftop systems including storage, while the payment carries a 20% profit margin plus an extra premium. Anyone installing below the benchmark cost may keep the savings.

Shortfalls peaked close to 4,000 megawatts in August, triggering outages across much of the country. Renewable capacity now stands at about 1,559 megawatts, mostly solar, and officials are targeting 20% of power output, roughly 5,500 megawatts, from renewables by 2030. Storage batteries could let households draw on solar output after dark, easing grid demand in peak periods.