Published: 12:18 AM, 02 September 2026
Special incentive package announced for installing rooftop solar panels
The government has announced a special incentive package to encourage the installation of rooftop solar power systems with battery storage as part of its efforts to promote renewable energy and strengthen the country's energy security.
Under the package, the maximum generation cost of electricity from rooftop solar systems with batteries has been set at Tk 8 per unit, taking into consideration prevailing market prices and rates quoted in various tenders received by the Power Division.
As part of the incentive, a 20 percent profit and an 11.25 percent premium will be added to the generation cost, bringing the applicable rate to Tk 10.50 per unit, reports UNB.
The government has said that if a customer can install such a solar power system at a cost lower than the prescribed Tk 8 per unit, the savings will be treated as the customer's dividend.
According to the notification, customers who install rooftop solar systems by Feb 28, 2027, in line with the Net Metering Guideline 2025, and supply surplus electricity to the national grid after meeting their own consumption will receive Tk 10.50 for each unit supplied to the grid.
The incentive will remain effective for three years, until Feb 28, 2030.
However, systems installed after Feb 28, 2027, will not qualify for the incentive.
Electricity distribution companies will maintain customer information, determine the amount of electricity supplied to the national grid and preserve relevant information concerning electricity prices, including the incentive component.
The incentive payments will be transferred directly to customers' bank accounts or mobile financial service accounts. Cash payments will not be allowed under the scheme.
The government has also made it mandatory for solar panels, batteries, inverters, meters and other equipment used in the systems to comply with technical standards prescribed by the Bangladesh Standards and Testing Institution (BSTI) and the Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority (SREDA).
Policy support for the initiative will be provided through the one-stop service centre established by the Power Division. Customers will also be1 able to receive assistance from district and upazila-level offices under the electricity distribution companies.
The government issued the notification on Tuesday, and it came into effect on Sept 1, 2026.
Many countries and territories have installed significant solar power capacity into their electrical grids to supplement or provide an alternative to conventional energy sources. Solar power plants use one of two technologies:
Photovoltaic (PV) systems use solar panels, either on rooftops or in ground-mounted solar farms, converting sunlight directly into electric power.
Concentrated solar power (CSP, also known as "concentrated solar thermal") plants use solar thermal energy to make steam, that is thereafter converted into electricity by a turbine.
Photovoltaic systems account for the great majority of solar capacity installed in the world. CSP represents a minor share of solar power capacity, and is present in significant quantities only in a few countries. Most operational CSP stations are located in Spain and the United States, while large solar farms using photovoltaics are being constructed in most geographic regions.
The worldwide growth of photovoltaics is extremely dynamic and varies strongly by country. In April 2022, the total global solar power capacity reached 1 TW, increasing to 2 TW in 2024. The top installers of 2024 included China, the United States, and India.
