Proposal for a solar power plant in Rampal comes up at ECNEC today

The government has taken an initiative to carry out a huge solar power project with a capacity of 442 megawatts in Rampal, Bagerhat. The aim is to increase renewable energy production, bring variety to the sources of energy and cut carbon emissions. The proposal is titled “Rampal 442 Megawatt Solar Power Plant Construction Project.” The Power Division has brought it, and the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will carry it out. The draft of the project will be placed today, Wednesday, for approval at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC). ECNEC Chairman and Prime Minister Mr. Tarique Rahman will preside over the meeting.

The total cost of the project is set at 2,498.08 crore taka. Of this, 374.71 crore taka will come from the own fund of the BPDB, and 2,123.37 crore taka will come from the Power Sector Development Fund. The loan from the Power Sector Development Fund carries an annual interest rate of 2 percent. The repayment period is 16 years, including a one year grace period.

Mr. Md. Zahurul Islam, Member (Generation) of the BPDB, said the panel capacity of the proposed solar power plant will be 442 megawatts. The power made in the solar panels will be changed into AC power through inverters and supplied to the national grid. He said this step is a big advance in widening the scope of renewable energy in the country. He said it will add new production capacity in the renewable energy sector and help increase the use of eco friendly fuel in power generation.

The Planning Commission has recommended carrying out the project between September 2026 and March 2029. The commission’s review says that once the project is done, power production based on renewable energy will rise. It says this will help reach the target of producing 20 percent of the country’s total energy mix from renewable sources by 2030. The project will add 442 megawatts of new power to the national grid. At present, the country has 28,827 megawatts of on grid power generation capacity, and solar power contributes 797 megawatts of it.

The project will be built on 918.50 acres of land in “Block B” of Rampal. The BPDB has already acquired this land. Since it will use its own land, no new land acquisition will be needed, and this will cut the cost of the project. The power made at the solar plant will go to the national grid through the existing transmission line of the nearby Rampal coal based power plant. So the project can be carried out at a comparatively low cost and in a short time.

The proposed solar power plant will use solar photovoltaic modules with a minimum capacity of 640 watt peak. It will have grid tied inverters with a total capacity of 360 megawatts, a pooling substation and a three kilometre long double circuit 230 kV transmission line. It will also have three 230 kV bays, including one spare bay.

The biggest part of the project cost, 1,238.61 crore taka or about 50 percent, will go to buying solar photovoltaic modules and mounting structures. Another 732.25 crore taka is set aside for buying electrical equipment, including inverters, transformers and a SCADA system.

The Planning Commission said the project is quite profitable and workable from both financial and economic sides. While the project is being carried out, 25 people will get jobs at the project office. About 200 temporary workers will get work under the contracting firms. After the work is finished, 261 people will get jobs in running and maintaining the plant, of whom 51 will be permanent and 203 will be hired through outsourcing.

The project fits with the “Five Year Strategic Framework for Reform and Development” and with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) number 7. That goal speaks of ensuring affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.