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Debiganj 20 MW (Rahimafrooz) Solar Power Plant

  • Jun 19
  • 3 min read

Current Status: Shelved

Representational Photo: (Energy and Power)


Debiganj 20 MW Solar Power Plant, also known as Rahimafrooz Panchagarh 20 MW Solar Park, is a proposed solar photovoltaic (SPV) power plant to be situated in Sonahar Union under Debiganj Upazila in Panchagarh District of Bangladesh (Location: 26.0542, 88.7420) approximately. It is proposed by Northstar Solar Power Company Limited (NSPCL), a Joint Venture Company (JVC) of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) and Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (SFCE), as a private Independent Power Producer (IPP) for 20 years. As per schedule, the power plant is to start commercial operation in June 2025 and retire in June 2045.


Capacity

The installed capacity of this power plant will be 20 MW (BPDB, 2023). 


Context

BPDB issued a Letter of Intent (LOI) on 3 February 2019 as a preliminary commitment to install the power plant (BPDB, 2022; BPDB, 2023). According to the LOI, the original expected COD was 31 December 2022, though no PPA had been signed as of the BPDB 2022 Progress Report (BPDB, 2022). The expected COD was subsequently revised to June 2025 (BPDB, 2023), and further to 2026 per a separate projection (PT, 2023). None of these CODs appear to have been met. The project is confirmed as shelved by Global Energy Monitor, with the status inferred as of June 2025 (GEM, 2026).


Land Acquisition

The power plant is going to be situated in Sonahar Union under Debiganj Upazila in Panchagarh District of Bangladesh, so no land acquisition information has not been disclosed yet. 


Finance

The project cost  of this power plant is expected to be around $65.738 million USD (PT, 2022).The cabinet committee on purchase approved a 20 MW solar power plant in Debiganj, Panchagarh district at a cost of Tk 557 crore, to be implemented by the Rahimafrooz-Shunfeng Consortium, with the government procuring electricity at Tk 8.60 per kWh for 20 years. (TDS, 2018)


Sponsors

The development and current ownership of the project are undertaken by Northstar Solar Power Company Limited (NSPCL), a Joint Venture Company (JVC) of Rahimafrooz Renewable Energy Limited (RREL) and Shunfeng International Clean Energy Limited (SFCE), each holding a 50% stake in the project (PT, 2023).


Contractors

No data has been found about the contractor as the power plant is only in the announced phase now but it is under the authorization of Northstar Solar Power Company Limited (NSPCL).


Fuel Supply

It is a ground mounted solar power plant so the source of fuel for this power plant is the sunlight.


Power Generation

The proposed power plant will supply 20 MW capacity of electricity to the national grid at a tariff of BDT  8.60 per unit (DS, 2018).


Environment

According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA 1995). The polluting industries, such as power plants, have to go through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC 1997). Ground-mounted solar panels present several advantages over rooftop installations. These panels, situated on the ground, are strategically placed to optimize exposure to sunlight, leading to increased energy production. Their flexibility in placement allows them to be situated in open areas with minimal shading, offering greater freedom in selecting suitable sites. Beyond their energy production benefits, ground-mounted solar panels contribute to environmental conservation by generating clean, renewable energy, thereby reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change. Moreover, these installations help conserve land resources by utilizing non-arable or otherwise unused spaces. Despite these advantages, it's important to acknowledge that installing ground-mounted solar panels may sometimes result in habitat disruption, land-use conflicts, and potential visual impacts. To address these challenges and maximize the positive environmental impact, careful planning and consideration of ecological factors are crucial for ground-mounted solar projects. No EIA has been found for this powerplant. According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Yellow” indicating it as a slightly harmful project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).


Reference

 
 
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