Speakers at a webinar have said that the country has a huge potential of generating about 1,500 MW of electricity from solar systems in the next one year.
"If there is policy support from the government, especially, for reducing tax on importing inverters in setting up solar systems, many investors will be encouraged to invest in the sector", said Dipal Barua, chief advisor of Bangladesh Solar and Renewable Energy Association (BSREA) while making a keynote presentation at the virtual seminar.
Bangladesh Energy Society (BES) organised the webinar titled '1500 MW electricity generation from multi-storied buildings, markets using rooftop solar energy panels by 2024 and sustainable solution to the country's current electricity crisis' on Thursday.
With BES president Abul Kalam Azad in the chair, the virtual event was also addressed by chairman of parliamentary standing committee on power and energy Waseqa Ayesha Khan and chairman of Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (Sreda) Munira Sultana.
Dipal Barua said an annual target can be fixed by the Power Division for different entities in the power sector for implementing renewable energy projects.
This will help them make good progress in promoting renewable energy in the country, he said.
He observed that there is great potential especially in commercial buildings, residential buildings, industrial plants, garment factories, hospitals, metro-rails, railway stations, river ports, airports, export processing zones, and other economic zones to use their rooftops to install solar power systems to meet their own consumption and also supply additional electricity to the national grid.
Social institutions like primary schools, secondary schools, colleges, universities, madrasas, mosques, temples and other religious buildings have opportunities to generate electricity from solar energy, he added.
Waseqa Ayesha Khan said local technology innovation companies should be encouraged to come forward in the sector.
"Special tax benefits could be given to businesses for using rooftop solar energy. Bangladesh Bank should encourage other commercial banks so that the Green Climate Fund can reach everyone's doorstep", she said.
Former power secretary Monowar Islam, former chairman of Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) ASM Alamgir Kabir, former Chairman of Bangladesh Rural Electrification Board Major General (retd) Moin Uddin also addressed the event.