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The government has taken an initiative to gradually introduce solar power across all offices, agencies and institutions under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives.
Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives State Minister Mir Shahe Alam said rooftop solar power systems would initially be introduced at offices under the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division. The initiative would subsequently be expanded to other government offices.
He made the remarks as the chief guest at a review meeting on the use of solar power in offices, agencies and institutions under the two divisions at the conference room of the Local Government Division at the Secretariat on Monday (August 17).
The state minister said installing rooftop solar systems at government offices could significantly reduce electricity costs while increasing the use of renewable energy.
He said solar power use had already begun at the Parliament building and would gradually be expanded to other government offices.
According to him, the initiative would not be limited to central government offices. Solar power systems would eventually be introduced at offices at the district, upazila, municipality and union levels.
The government plans to use net metering to manage electricity generated by solar systems installed at local government offices.
Under the system, surplus electricity generated by an office can be supplied to the national grid. The state minister said this could create an opportunity for local government institutions to earn revenue from surplus electricity while reducing their own electricity costs.
The initiative would also allow unused rooftop space on government buildings to be utilised for renewable power generation.
Two separate committees, led by two additional secretaries from the Local Government Division and the Rural Development and Cooperatives Division, will be formed to determine the implementation process.
The committees will consult companies involved in the solar power sector, including Walton, PRAN-RFL and Grameen Shakti.
They will examine installation methods, potential costs and other relevant issues before determining how solar power systems can be introduced across government offices.
The meeting noted that the Cabinet Division issued a directive on August 10 to increase the use of solar power in government offices. The directive calls for the majority of electricity used for official activities to be generated from renewable sources, particularly solar power.
