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Walton has unveiled an integrated solar ecosystem designed to expand renewable energy use in industry, reduce electricity costs and promote environmentally friendly production, enabling household appliances such as refrigerators, air conditioners and smart TVs to run directly on solar power.
Finance and Planning Minister Amir Khasru Mahmud Chowdhury inaugurated the technology at Walton’s corporate office in Bashundhara, Dhaka, on Saturday.
The ecosystem combines solar power generation, storage and supply to the national grid with the production of solar-powered household appliances, offering an integrated solution for renewable energy use at both industrial and domestic levels.
Speaking at the event, the minister said Walton’s solar initiative would gradually expand across the country, potentially generating a substantial amount of solar electricity within the next one to two years.
“This will help meet people’s electricity needs at a lower cost, reduce energy imports and save a significant amount of foreign currency,” he said.
SM Shamsul Alam, chairman of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, said the solar ecosystem would help customers reduce electricity bills, increase renewable energy use and cut carbon emissions, contributing to a greener and more self-reliant Bangladesh.
SM Ashraful Alam, vice-chairman of Walton Hi-Tech Industries PLC, said the initiative integrated environmentally friendly solar power generation, storage and transmission to the national grid with the production of solar-powered appliances for everyday household use.
He said the ecosystem would create new business opportunities for the company, strengthen its financial capacity and fundamentals, and help generate long-term value for investors in the capital market.
Managing Director SM Mahbubul Alam said Walton’s goal was not limited to manufacturing products in Bangladesh but also included developing technology locally and showcasing the country’s capabilities in global markets.
He said the solar ecosystem would take the technological excellence, progress and capabilities of Bangladesh’s high-tech industry to a new level through the production of renewable energy-based, environmentally friendly products.
Walton currently generates 32 megawatts of solar power through rooftop and floating solar projects at its own factories. The company says this capacity is equivalent to the total electricity demand of a large district town.
In addition to meeting part of its own energy needs, Walton supplies an average of around 1,150 megawatt-hours of solar electricity to the national grid annually through the net-metering system.
Under the newly unveiled ecosystem, Walton is producing solar panels, inverters, batteries and a range of gadgets and household appliances designed to operate on solar energy.
Its hybrid solar refrigerators, air conditioners and smart TVs can run directly on solar power without batteries when sufficient sunlight is available. If solar generation falls short, the appliances automatically switch to electricity from the national grid.
Walton has also introduced solar-powered washing machines, microwave ovens, electric and rice cookers, and BLDC fans incorporating energy storage system (ESS) technology.
The system allows electricity generated during the day to be stored in batteries for use at night or at other convenient times. Walton’s inverter batteries can be charged using both solar energy and electricity from the national grid.
As part of its technological innovations, Walton has equipped its Takyon electric bikes with an Intelligent Backup Power Supply System. The technology turns the bikes into mobile energy storage units that can provide electricity in emergencies as well as serve as a means of transport.
The company is also manufacturing specialised photovoltaic solar cables designed to withstand ultraviolet radiation and adverse environmental conditions, ensuring safer transmission of solar power.
Other Walton officials present at the inauguration included director SM Rezaul Alam, SM Manjurul Alam Abhi and Tahmina Afroz Tanna.