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Barishal 1 MW (BPDB) Solar Power Plant

  • Jun 25
  • 3 min read

Current Status:  Commercial Operation

Representational Photo


Barishal 1 MW Solar Power Plant, also known as Barishal Solar Park, is a proposed solar photovoltaic power plant to be situated under Barishal Sadar Upazila in Barishal District of Bangladesh. It is proposed by Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) as a State-owned Power Plant (SOPP) for 25 years. The layout of the power plant was approved by June 2022. Commercial Operation Date (COD) of the power plant is 25 May 2024. As per schedule, the power plant will be retired on 24 October 2049. 


Capacity

The installed capacity of the power plant is 1 MW. According to BPDB installed generation statistics, the plant is included within the national solar fleet, which contributes around 767 MW of total solar capacity in Bangladesh (BPDB, 2026).


Context

The Barishal 1 MW (BPDB) Solar Power Plant was developed under BPDB’s renewable energy expansion program to increase clean electricity generation and promote small-scale grid-connected solar projects near existing substations.

The plant achieved its Commercial Operation Date (COD) on 25 May 2024 after installation, testing and successful synchronization with the national grid under BPDB supervision. Barishal was selected due to rising electricity demand, availability of government land and suitable solar irradiation conditions. The project also supports BPDB’s strategy to reduce transmission losses and improve local grid stability through distributed generation.

As a state-owned solar project, it operates under BPDB ownership (no private PPA), and its expected lifetime is around 20–25 years from COD (2024-2049) (বিউবো, 2026) .


Finance

This Solar Power Plant is a fully government-financed project implemented by the Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) under public sector development funding through an EPC contract. It was executed under BPDB’s procurement system with financing from the Government of Bangladesh, with no private investment or Independent Power Producer (IPP) involvement and no Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) structure.

 

Land Acquisition

The Barishal 1 MW BPDB Solar Power Plant was developed on government-allocated land, so no major private land acquisition was required.


Environment

According to Section 12 of the Bangladesh Environment Protection Act 1995, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is obligatory for any industry (MOLJPA 1995). Polluting industries, such as power plants, must undergo an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and EIA as directed in the Environmental Conservation Rules 2017 (MOEFCC 1997). According to the environmental conservation rule 2023 the project falls in the “Green” indicating it as an environment friendly project for the environment (MOEFCC 2023).


Criticism

Despite its numerous advantages, solar power generation in Barishal may be constrained by several environmental and local factors. The region experiences a prolonged monsoon season characterized by heavy rainfall and frequent cloud cover, which reduces solar irradiance and subsequently lowers overall energy production. Additionally, the accumulation of dust, dirt, and other airborne particles on photovoltaic panels can gradually reduce efficiency if regular cleaning and maintenance are not properly maintained. Moreover, the high ambient temperatures typical of the area may further decrease system performance, as solar panels generally operate less efficiently when exposed to temperatures above their optimal operating range, even under strong sunlight conditions (PS, 2025).


Reference

 
 
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