Solar push rises as power demand surges
Bangladesh is placing a bigger bet on solar power — not just as a clean energy option, but as a practical answer to rising electricity demand, fuel uncertainty and the long-term pressure to reduce dependence on conventional power sources.
The government now aims to add 809.5 megawatts (MW) of new solar power to the national grid by 2028, in a move that signals a broader shift in energy planning.
The target comes at a time when summer demand is increasing, actual power generation remains well below installed capacity, and policymakers are under growing pressure to make the country’s power system more reliable and less import-dependent.
Officials say the plan is part of a wider effort to expand renewable energy use, strengthen energy security and cut carbon emissions.
At present, Bangladesh generates around 1,450.67 MW of solar power, of which 1,073.5 MW is connected to the national grid and 377.17 MW is produced off-grid. Solar now accounts for the largest share of the country’s renewable energy mix.
According to the latest Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) data, total grid-based installed power generation capacity stood at 28,919 MW as of May 2026.
If captive power and off-grid renewable energy are included, total installed capacity rises to 32,332 MW. But actual generation tells a different story.
Last Saturday, the country’s real electricity generation was only 10,755 MW, compared with 16,477 MW in April 2024.
This summer, peak demand is expected to reach between 18,000 MW and 18,500 MW.
That gap between installed capacity and actual supply is one reason solar is gaining fresh attention.
BPDB Chairman Engineer Rezaul Karim said the government is pursuing an integrated plan to increase renewable energy use, lower emissions and make the energy system more secure.
As part of that plan, 13 solar power projects with a combined capacity of 572.6 MW have already gone out for tender.
In addition, nearly 5 MW of new rooftop solar systems have been installed and are expected to come online by September this year.
Beyond these, officials say 26 renewable power plants with a combined capacity of 1,174 MW are now under construction.
Of them, six projects are being implemented under government initiatives, while the private sector is building 20 plants with a combined capacity of 1,062 MW.
A significant part of the solar push is also moving beyond utility-scale plants and into cities. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day BIIID Expo on power, energy and construction equipment at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Center on Thursday, Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Minister Iqbal Hasan Mahmud said the government is considering steps to install solar panels on every house in the capital to reduce electricity load in Dhaka.
He said a new policy in this regard is expected by June through a government order.
The emphasis on rooftop solar suggests the government is beginning to see renewable energy not only as a grid-scale project but also as a decentralised solution — one that can ease pressure on the urban power network, reduce peak-hour demand and improve backup electricity arrangements.
The solar expansion is also tied to Bangladesh’s longer-term climate and development goals.
The government has set targets to generate 20 percent of total electricity from renewable sources by 2030 and 30 percent by 2041, in line with the broader direction of SDG 7, which calls for access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy.
Still, the road ahead will not be easy.
Despite policy ambition, renewable energy remains a small portion of the country’s overall power structure.
According to the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA), Bangladesh’s total renewable energy capacity currently stands at 1,743.76 MW, including solar parks, net-metered rooftop systems and solar home systems.
Besides solar, the country has 230 MW of hydropower, 62 MW of wind power, 0.69 MW of biogas-based power and 0.4 MW of biomass power.
One of the major upcoming projects is a 100 MW solar park being built by state-run Rural Power Company Limited (RPCL) at Madarganj in Jamalpur, scheduled to begin operation by December 2026.
In addition, independent power producers in the private sector may add another 132 MW to the national grid.
Earlier, on April 27, the minister said the government wanted to produce 10,000 MW of solar power in the next five years — a much larger ambition that underlines how central solar energy is becoming to Bangladesh’s future power strategy.
For years, Bangladesh’s energy debate has centred on generation shortfalls, imported fuel dependence and rising system costs. Now, solar is being repositioned as part of the solution.
The government’s latest target may seem modest compared with overall national demand, but it marks a strategic shift: solar is no longer just an environmental promise — it is increasingly being treated as a power security priority.
If that transition succeeds, Bangladesh’s next energy story may not be about shortages alone, but about how quickly the country can turn sunlight into a dependable part of its power future.
