Govt likely to set up 10MW floating solar power plant in Mongla

A process is underway to set up a 10MW floating solar power plant at Mongla as a Mujib Borsho gift for the people of the area, reports UNB.

According to official sources, the power division has initiated the move to implement the project as soon as possible.

“A technical committee is now evaluating a proposal of an Indo-Bangla consortium in this regard,” Mohammad Alauddin, additional secretary to the power division, told UNB.

He said if the committee finds the proposal technically and financially viable, then the government will proceed to sign a contract with them to implement the project.

The Mongla municipality will be an equity partner of the consortium by giving its water-body for the project.

Currently, Mongla municipality has a water-body on a 60-acre land in Bagerhat district to run its water treatment plant from which it supplies water to its residents.

Officials said the consortium of Indian and Bangladeshi companies moved its proposal to the Power Division recently, expressing its interest to set up the project.

As per the proposal, the municipality will provide the water-body while the two companies will invest money to set up the project as an independent power producer (IPP).

Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB), on behalf of the government, will purchase electricity from the project for about 20 years.

Officials said a technical committee of the government is now scrutinising the technical and financial aspects of the proposal.

They said the government is considering the project positively as the consortium claimed that they have the capability to implement it very quickly—even within 6 months.

Once the proposal is accepted and the project implemented, it will be a good gift of the Mujib Year which the government officially announced to celebrate the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

Officials said if the project is implemented, it will be the country’s first private floating solar power plant.

Earlier, the government planned to implement a 50MW solar power plant in the Kaptai Lake. After a feasibility study, the government will invite proposals from bidders to implement the project.

The government has planned to generate 10 per cent or 2000 MW electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, which is 405MW at present.

The country’s current capacity for power generation is about 22,000MW and it has a target of generating 24,000MW of electricity by 2021, 40,000MW by 2030, and 60,000MW by 2041.

The recent successes of Japan, China, India, Germany, France, China and other countries have prompted the government to set up floating solar power plants across the country.

Japan was the first country to install a floating solar power plant in 2006 in Chiba while China is now the leader in setting up the largest floating solar power plant of 40MW capacity in Huainan city of its Anhui province.