Kurigram Administration Channels 45 Kilowatts of Rooftop Solar Power into National Grid

Shafiqul Islam Bebu, Kurigram

The Kurigram district administration has begun its journey of generating electricity from solar power. A total of 72 solar panels with a generation capacity of about 45 kilowatts (per hour) have been installed on the roof of the deputy commissioner’s office building. Through net metering and an on-grid system, this electricity is being connected to the national grid.

According to district administration sources, the rooftop solar panels were installed on the office roof on the directive of the Cabinet Division, as part of implementing a government priority project. The total cost of installing the entire system was about Tk 20.34 lakh. Two on-grid inverters with internet connectivity have been attached to the 72 solar panels. The system formally began generating electricity earlier this month. The information was confirmed, with photographs, on the district administration’s official Facebook page the day before yesterday.

Saifuddin, assistant commissioner (Nazarat branch) and executive magistrate of the district administration, said that, following a Power Division directive, a company named Rancon Infrastructure and Engineering Limited was given responsibility for the work through a tender. After the work was completed at the end of last month, electricity supply to the national grid began earlier this month. He said the amount of electricity generated may vary depending on sunlight.

Regarding the system, Sirajul Islam, executive engineer of Northern Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) in Kurigram, said that, through the on-grid system, solar electricity will be generated mainly during peak hours (daytime) and added to the national grid. The district administration has an allocation of 80 kilowatts of electricity for its own use. Under the net metering method, at the end of the month the bill will be calculated by deducting the portion obtained from solar from the district administration’s total electricity consumption.

Kurigram Deputy Commissioner Annapurna Debnath said: “The deputy commissioner’s office has entered a new era of generating electricity through the use of renewable energy. Following the government’s directive, the project work has been completed and electricity is being connected to the national grid. In future, if the necessary government decisions and directives are received, the scope of the rooftop solar panels will be expanded to increase the rate of electricity generation.”