Proposed rooftop and floating solar projects at public universities, colleges and two local government areas could generate Tk 2,777 crore in electricity sales over 20 years, offering a major investment opportunity for the private sector, according to a study presented at a recent dialogue.
The proposed projects, covering 31 public universities, 150 colleges, Rajshahi City Corporation and Shailkupa Municipality, would have a combined capacity of 132.61 megawatt-peak (MWp).
The estimated investment requirement is Tk 731 crore, with projected electricity generation of 370.3 crore units over two decades.
Presented by Shihab Uddin, a lecturer in Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Daffodil International University, the study estimated an average generation cost of Tk 4.10 per unit against a proposed selling price of Tk 7.50.
However, actual profitability would depend on project costs and other expenses.
The dialogue, titled “Development of Solar Power at Rooftops and Other Locations in City Corporations and Municipalities through Private Investment”, was organized by the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) in collaboration with the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Under the proposed model, private investors would finance, install and operate the solar systems and earn revenue by selling electricity, reducing the upfront investment burden on host institutions.
The projects could avoid an estimated 23 lakh tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over 20 years.
