State-owned North-West Power Generation Company Ltd (NWPGCL) has decided to set up a 7.6MW solar power plant in Sirajganj by next year.
“We are going to install the plant as part of our renewable energy programme. With increased awareness of the adverse effects of global warming due to greenhouse gas emission, efforts are made all over the world to curb emission by increasing energy generation from renewable energy resources,” NWPGCL Managing Director AM Khurshedul Alam told the Dhaka Tribune yesterday.
“The government has set a target of 3,490MW that will be implemented by NWPGCL under the master plan. Out of 3,490 MW, 100MW will be based on renewable energy source,” he said, adding: “Considering that opportunity, NWPGCL has planned to install the 7.6MW solar plant.”
Khurshedul said international tenders had already been invited for the project and the last date for tender submission is February 7.
A meeting was held yesterday to invite tenders and representatives of 30 companies were present there.
Khurshedul said the Sirajganj plant to be set up on 23.75 acres of land would cost around $15 million.
The country’s current renewable power generation capacity is 411MW while the government has planned to generate 1,740MW from solar plants by 2021.
The government is currently working to install solar panel-based power projects having 152MW production capacity and connect those to the national grid.
The projects are Dhorola 30MW Solar Park in Kurigram, Rangunia 60MW in Chittagong, Sarishabari 3MW in Jamalpur, Ishwardi 2MW in Pabna, Aricha 1.5MW in Manikganj, Sirajganj 1MW and Gangachhara 55MW in Rangpur.
The government earlier awarded contracts to set up two solar-based plants in Dhorola and Sharishabari. Contractors of the projects – ETERN-HAREON Consortium and IFE-CPC-JEL Consortium – will implement the projects having the capacity of 30MW and 3MW.
On October 1 last year, the Cabinet Committee on Public Purchase approved a proposal for setting up a 200MW solar park, the largest in the country, in Teknaf of Cox’s Bazar on a build-own-operate basis.
It will be implemented by SunEdision Energy Holding (Singapore) Pte Ltd.