Bangladesh Targets 20% Electricity from Renewables by 2030: State Minister Amit

☀ Dhaka, Bangladesh — The Bangladesh government has set a target of generating at least 20 percent of the country’s total electricity from renewable sources by 2030, State Minister for Power, Energy and Mineral Resources Aninda Islam Amit told Parliament on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.

📊 Of this, rooftop solar is expected to contribute 5,500 megawatts and ground-mounted solar 4,500 megawatts, while wind, waste-to-energy, hydropower, floating solar and agrivoltaic technologies are projected to contribute a further 450 to 550 megawatts, he said.

👥 Parliament Question from MP Helen Jerin Khan

📊 Replying to a notice calling attention to matters of urgent public importance moved by reserved-seat MP Helen Jerin Khan, the state minister outlined the government’s renewable energy roadmap, saying electricity demand could reach 24,000-25,000 megawatts by 2030 if the current pace of economic growth and industrialisation continues.

📜 National Renewable Energy Development Strategy 2026-2030

📊 To curb reliance on imported fuel amid rising demand, he said, the government has prepared the “National Renewable Energy Development Strategy 2026-2030”, which envisages generating at least 30 percent electricity from renewable sources by 2040.

💰 Tax Relief for Solar Equipment Imports

📊 To reduce the cost of solar projects, Amit said, the government has offered tax relief on the import of panels, inverters, batteries and related equipment, reducing the duty to just 1 percent, with a six-month special exemption for commercial importers covering:

• 💰 Customs duty
• 💰 Regulatory duty
• 💰 Supplementary duty
• 💰 VAT
• 💰 Advance tax
• 💰 Advance income tax

🔌 Net Metering: Tk 10.50 per Unit for Surplus Solar

📊 To encourage investment in small-scale solar, surplus electricity can now be fed into the national grid, with the government purchasing each unit at Tk 10.50, he said.

🌾 30,000 Acres of Unused Government Land for Solar

📊 On land availability, the state minister said initially around 60,000 acres of unused government land have been identified, of which roughly 30,000 acres have been earmarked for solar projects following review, to be allocated to investors by Bangladesh Investment Development Authority (BIDA) under public-private partnership arrangements.

🌿 Rampal Coal Unit Replaced with 460MW Solar Project

📊 He also announced that, instead of a second coal-fired unit at Rampal, a 460-megawatt solar project is being planned there on the Prime Minister’s advice, citing concerns over the Sundarbans and local communities.

📊 A 70-megawatt solar project is likewise planned on unused ash-pond land at the Matarbari coal power project site, Amit said.

🏛 Government Building Rooftop Solar Programme

📊 Solar installations are also being rolled out on government building rooftops, including 23 buildings of the Local Government Division in Feni, which is expected to be inaugurated during the Prime Minister’s visit to the district on September 17, he said.

👥 Small Solar Projects for Youth Entrepreneurship

📊 The state minister added that the government sees small solar projects as a source of new entrepreneurship, particularly for youth, and is in talks with Bangladesh Bank and development partners on financing on easy terms.

📋 Renewable Energy Policy Framework

📊 He said discussions are also underway with investors on wheeling charges and cross-subsidy charges for large renewable projects, alongside recently framed policies, including:

• 📜 Renewable Energy Policy 2025
• 📜 Net Metering Guidelines 2025
• 📜 National Rooftop Solar Programme 2025

📊 Strategic Context: Bangladesh Energy Transition

📊 For Bangladesh’s energy strategy, the 20% renewables by 2030 target represents a significant acceleration:

• ☀ Current renewables share: ~3-4% of electricity generation
• ☀ 2030 target: 20% renewables (5x increase)
• ☀ 2040 target: 30% renewables
• 🛢 LNG import reduction — renewables replace expensive LNG spot market
• 🌏 Climate commitment — Bangladesh NDC targets
• 🌿 Sundarbans protection — Rampal coal replaced with solar

💰 Investment Opportunity

📊 For investors, the Bangladesh renewable energy market offers significant opportunities:

• 💰 10,000MW solar capacity target by 2030 (5,500MW rooftop + 4,500MW ground)
• 💰 30,000 acres government land available for solar projects
• 💰 1% import duty on solar equipment (vs standard rates)
• 💰 Tk 10.50 per unit guaranteed purchase for surplus solar
• 💰 460MW Rampal solar project — PPP opportunity
• 💰 70MW Matarbari solar project — brownfield development
• 💰 Government building rooftops — 23 buildings in Feni alone

📋 Implications for Industries

📊 For Bangladesh’s industrial sector, the renewable energy push offers several benefits:

• 🌿 Cost reduction — rooftop solar reduces electricity bills
• 🌿 Sustainability compliance — meets EU/US buyer ESG requirements
• 🌿 Energy security — reduces dependence on imported LNG
• 🌿 Carbon footprint — supports net-zero commitments of global brands
• 👥 Green jobs — new employment in solar installation and maintenance

✅ For Bangladesh’s broader economic strategy, the 20% renewables by 2030 target aligns with multiple national priorities: reducing energy import costs, addressing the climate crisis, attracting green FDI, supporting export competitiveness through sustainability compliance, and creating new entrepreneurship opportunities for youth. The coming years will be critical for execution — with the success of the strategy depending on land allocation efficiency, financing accessibility, and the ability to attract both domestic and international investors to the renewable energy sector.

🌏 For Bangladesh’s export community — particularly RMG manufacturers facing EU sustainability requirements — the rooftop solar programme offers a practical pathway to reduce carbon footprint while lowering electricity costs. With the government’s commitment to purchase surplus solar at Tk 10.50 per unit, factories can now turn their rooftops into revenue-generating assets while supporting Bangladesh’s broader renewable energy transition.