Power from Mymensingh solar plant to national grid soon

The 50-megawatt solar-based power plant in Sutiakhali of Mymensingh will start generating electricity by the end of June, targeting the government's initiative to generate 10% of the total electricity by renewable energy by 2021.

The government has targeted generation of 24,000MW of electricity by 2021. Of the electricity, 2,000MW of power would come from renewable sources.       

The solar-based power plant was established on 144 acres of land with an estimated cost of Tk800 crore in 2017, reports a correspondent from Mymensingh.

The project is being jointly implemented by HDFC Sinpower Ltd, a joint venture of three companies from Bangladesh, Singapore, and Malaysia. 

Around 85% of the total work of the project has been completed with the installation of barbed wire, solar pillars, and river training.

Moreover, 132 KV transmission line is being installed in order to add the electricity to the national power grid through the city's Kewatkhali power grid.

When contacted, HDFC Sinpower Ltd Director Md Shafiqul Islam said: "We are trying to finish the project as soon as possible, abiding by the government's rules and regulations. It is the largest solar-based power plant among all the projects running in the country. The plant is supposed to go into production very soon."

The official, however, added that the electricity production might be delayed as some Chinese engineers who are working here have gone to their country to celebrate Chinese New year. They are yet to return due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Project Director and Executive Director of Power Development Board (PDB) Indrajit Debnath said: "Local as well as foreign engineers are involved in this project and 50-megawatt electricity will contribute to the national power grid through Kewatkhali power grid."

He also explained the benefit of solar-based power, saying solar power is called green energy which is befitting for the country as it has no detrimental effect on the environment like conventional ways of electricity generation through fossil fuel.

Primarily, the production cost will be Tk10 to 13 per unit, but gradually the cost will come down, Indrajit Debnath added.