RMG factories can generate 1,768MWp solar power: CPD
Bangladesh’s readymade garment (RMG) factories hold the structural potential to generate up to 1,768 megawatt-peak (MWp) of electricity through rooftop solar systems, offering a crucial cushion against the nation’s severe and persistent energy shortages, according to a recent study by the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD).
The think tank presented these findings at a seminar titled “Industrial Rooftop Solar in RMG Sector: Investment Potential for Chinese FDI,” held at the BRAC Centre Inn in Dhaka on Thursday.
Although Bangladesh boasts an installed power generation capacity of 29,500MW, severe fuel supply constraints currently cap actual output at roughly half that figure.
The ongoing grid deficit was further exacerbated over the past month following an accident at a floating liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal in Cox’s Bazar, which severely restricted gas supplies and forced gas-fired power generation plants to cut operations.
Mapping nearly 9.7 million square metres of rooftop surface area across the apparel sector using a standard metric of 5.5 square metres per kilowatt-peak of capacity CPD’s research calculates that small factories can generate 485MWp, while medium and large manufacturing units can produce 637MWp and 646MWp, respectively.
The evaluation reveals that rooftop solar systems could cover a median energy demand of 40 per cent for large factories, 33 per cent for medium units, and 38 per cent for small facilities.
To project electricity demand across the broader sector, researchers trained a machine-learning model on monthly consumption metrics from 350 facilities, combining parameters such as factory scale, workforce, location, and machinery, alongside direct consumption data from 337 matched factories.
Furthermore, the study identified 2,303 apparel factories comprising 61 large, 320 medium, and 1,922 small facilities as either “investment-ready” or “investable with support.”
Harnessing this total rooftop potential across these units will require an estimated investment of $188 million, presenting a substantial target for foreign direct investment, particularly from Chinese partners looking to expand green energy financing in South Asia.
