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The government is planning to install solar panels in phases on the rooftops of government offices under the Local Government and Rural Development and Cooperatives divisions to cut electricity costs and expand the use of renewable energy.
State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Mir Shah Alam disclosed the plan at two separate meetings at the ministry’s conference room on Tuesday.
He said the initiative would cover not only central government offices but also public offices at the district, upazila, municipality and union levels.
“This will make public service infrastructure more cost-effective, modern and environmentally friendly,” he said.
The government is considering both net-metering and hybrid systems for the rooftop solar installations. Under net metering, surplus electricity generated by solar panels can be supplied to the national grid. Hybrid systems, meanwhile, would allow solar-generated power to be used after sunset when needed.
Mir Shah Alam said the government was also considering providing financial support for implementing the programme. The authorities also plan to draw on technical expertise from the private sector to expand solar power use in government institutions.
Representatives from Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti are expected to provide technical assistance, with the possibility of signing memorandums of understanding where necessary.
The minister said increasing renewable energy use, reducing government expenditure and promoting environmentally sustainable development were key priorities.
Officials said two committees, headed by additional secretaries of the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, were formed following a decision on August 17.
The committees have identified government buildings with suitable rooftops for solar panel installation and assessed their roof areas, estimated installation costs and potential implementation challenges.
The initiative follows a Cabinet Division directive issued on August 10 calling for increased use of solar power in government offices.
Officials from the two divisions, heads of relevant agencies and senior ministry officials attended the meetings, along with representatives of Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti.