Despite setting ambitious renewable energy goals, Bangladesh continues to lag behind several South Asian neighbours in solar power generation, highlighting the challenges facing the country’s transition away from fossil fuel dependence.
Government officials say efforts are now being intensified to expand renewable energy capacity, with plans to add 809.5 megawatts (MW) of solar electricity to the national grid by the end of 2028. Currently, renewable energy accounts for a relatively small share of Bangladesh’s overall electricity generation.
According to the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), the country now produces around 1,451MW of solar electricity, representing approximately 5 per cent of total installed power capacity.
BPDB Chairman Rezaul Karim said on Thursday that the government is implementing an integrated strategy aimed at boosting renewable energy production, reducing carbon emissions, and improving long-term energy security.
Officials said tenders have already been invited for 13 solar projects with a combined generation capacity of 572.6MW, while rooftop solar installations adding nearly 5MW are expected to become operational by September this year.
At present, 26 renewable energy projects with a total capacity of 1,174MW are under construction. Of these, six are government-run initiatives, while 20 projects with more than 1,000MW capacity are being developed by private companies.
Energy experts, however, argue that Bangladesh’s renewable transition remains slow compared to neighbouring countries. While Bangladesh currently generates around 1,073MW of grid-connected solar power, countries such as Vietnam produce nearly 8,700MW, Pakistan around 800MW, and Sri Lanka about 1,000MW through solar energy connected to their national grids.
Analysts say Bangladesh’s heavy dependence on imported fuel has made renewable energy expansion increasingly important.
Energy specialist Shafiqul Alam stressed the need for a long-term energy master plan to restore investor confidence and ensure policy consistency.
Meanwhile, environmental expert Hasan Mehedi suggested that unused land previously acquired for coal-fired power plants could instead be utilised for solar parks, potentially reducing electricity generation costs significantly.
Bangladesh aims to source 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030 and 30 per cent by 2041 under its sustainable development commitments. Officials believe expanding rooftop solar systems, introducing investor-friendly policies, and increasing private sector participation will be key to achieving those targets.
Energy sector observers say the coming years will determine whether Bangladesh can successfully accelerate its transition towards cleaner and more sustainable power generation.
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