Bangladesh has joined a global initiative to provide solar power to 300 million homes worldwide by 2030, calling for international cooperation and investment to expand rooftop solar installations.
Bangladesh endorsed the Global Rooftop Solar Declaration at the COP31 climate conference in Antalya, Türkiye, on Monday, alongside Kenya, Nigeria and Vanuatu. Australia was the declaration's initial supporter.
The initiative aims to double the number of solar-powered households worldwide to 300 million by 2030 by reducing installation costs, simplifying approval processes, modernising electricity grids and developing a skilled workforce.
Endorsing the declaration, Power Division Secretary Mirana Mahrukh said Bangladesh was committed to developing 5,500MW of rooftop solar capacity by 2030. An indicative implementation plan envisages installing solar systems on around 870,000 rooftops.
Under a proposed financing plan, 20% of the investment would come from domestic sources, while the remaining 80% would require international financing. This means domestic resources would support installations on around 174,000 rooftops, with international cooperation needed for the remaining 696,000.
Mahrukh called on global partners to help mobilise affordable financing, advanced technologies and investment to turn rooftops into sources of clean energy and economic opportunities.
Bangladesh is increasingly looking to rooftop solar as an alternative energy source amid pressure on its power and energy sector from dependence on imported fossil fuels and supply constraints.
Welcoming the declaration, Dipal C Barua, chairman of the Bright Green Energy Foundation, said Pakistan had recently set a global example in off-grid solar power generation, an initiative that could inspire energy-deficient countries such as Bangladesh.
“Like Pakistan, Bangladesh is also facing an acute energy crisis. Encouragingly, the government has recently adopted a more positive approach towards renewable energy, introducing a dedicated ordinance for solar power, alongside tax incentives, financing mechanisms and dedicated funding facilities,” he said.
Barua said these measures were accelerating rooftop solar installations in industrial facilities and among households outside the national grid.
“If implemented successfully, Bangladesh could emerge as a model for other densely populated, energy-deficient countries within the next five years,” he added.
Dr Khondaker Golam Moazzem, president of the Knowledge Hub Institute, said the new government had demonstrated political commitment to expanding renewable energy use through various policy and implementation measures.
However, establishing an efficient domestic supply chain for renewable energy should be a priority, he said.
He cautioned that plans to expand LNG infrastructure and extract domestic coal for power generation could place additional financial pressure on the government and prove unsustainable in the long run.
Moazzem also stressed the need to address the financial losses of state-owned energy-sector entities. Drawing lessons from Pakistan, he said gradually phasing out energy subsidies could help reduce the losses of public utilities while encouraging consumers to shift from gas, LNG, diesel and LPG to electricity, with a growing share of power coming from renewable sources.
Balancing the immediate energy crisis with a gradual transition to cleaner energy, while avoiding costly policy mistakes, would be a major test of the government's political leadership, he added.
Australian Climate Change and Energy Minister Chris Bowen, who is also president of negotiations for COP31, said rooftop solar had enabled households to play a central role in Australia's energy transition.
One in three Australian homes has rooftop solar panels, the highest proportion in the world, he said. The global declaration aims to extend Australia's experience to other countries.
Ibrahim A Shelleng, Nigeria's senior special assistant to the president on climate finance and stakeholder engagement, said investment in solar infrastructure could strengthen energy independence, create jobs and reduce long-term infrastructure costs.
The Global Rooftop Solar Declaration calls on national, state and local governments to accelerate the deployment of rooftop solar and household batteries through simpler approval processes, affordable financing, modernised electricity grids, equitable access and workforce training.
The Global Solar Council and Solar Citizens welcomed the new endorsements, saying coordinated international efforts could help provide affordable and reliable electricity to households worldwide.
The initiative also seeks to address barriers that have slowed rooftop solar adoption in many emerging economies, including inadequate financing, weak grid infrastructure and a shortage of skilled workers.
