60 kW of Solar Power Begins Flowing into National Grid from Faridpur District Council

Anwar Zahid, Faridpur

Faridpur Zila Parishad has set up a 60 kilowatt solar power system on the roofs of two of its buildings. The system now supplies the electricity it produces to the national grid. It uses the net metering method. This is a notable step, because few district council buildings in Bangladesh have taken such an initiative.

Yesterday, Faridpur Zila Parishad and the Faridpur Sales and Distribution Division of West Zone Power Distribution Company Limited (WZPDCL 1) signed an agreement on the matter. The two sides carried out the work under the directions of the Local Government Division.

Workers installed 40 kilowatts of solar panels on the roof of the Zila Parishad engineering branch building. They installed another 20 kilowatts on the roof of the Sadar VIP Dak Bungalow. Marsh Power Technology Limited built the 60 kilowatt plant. The power distribution division lists this company as an approved firm.

Under the agreement, the company will repair and maintain the plants for the next 20 years. The district officials held an opening ceremony to mark the start of the supply. Mr. Mazharul Islam, the Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur, attended it. Mr. Md. Afzal Hossain Khan Palash, the Administrator of the Zila Parishad, also attended.

Mr. Shahriar Mohammad Miazi, the Superintendent of Police, took part as well. So did Mr. Md. Bakahid Hossain, the Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Md. Iliasur Rahman, Deputy Director of Local Government and Administrator of Faridpur Municipality, was present. Ms. Meshkatul Jannat Rabeya, the Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Officer, also joined the event.

Ms. Sanjida Sultana, the Executive Officer of the Zila Parishad, attended too. Mr. Mohammad Azharul Islam, Executive Engineer of the Local Government Engineering Department, was there. Mr. Pranab Chandra Debnath, Executive Engineer of WZPDCL 1, came as well.

Mr. Sheikh Shahidul Islam, Assistant Engineer of the Zila Parishad, and officials from several offices also attended. Mr. Mahbub Hossain Piyal, General Secretary of Faridpur Press Club, was present. Mr. Anwar Zahid, senior journalist of Inqilab, also attended.

Officials hope that sending solar power to the national grid through net metering will help. They believe it will spread the use of renewable energy in government buildings. Using government rooftops to make electricity also creates a chance to increase the use of clean energy.