In a major push toward clean energy, the government has taken up a plan to ramp up renewable power generation and reduce reliance on coal and fuel-based electricity that contributes to environmental degradation, reports UNB.
The project titled "Construction of Sonagazi 220MW Solar Power Plant," will be implemented by the Electricity Generation Company of Bangladesh Ltd (EGCB) under the Power Division.
Once completed, it will stand as one of the largest utility-scale solar installations in the country.
The proposed plant will be set up in Sonagazi upazila of Feni district, marking a substantial stride in Bangladesh's efforts to diversify energy sources and align with long-term climate and clean energy commitments.
According to the project proposal, the solar plant will require an estimated investment of Tk 1,888.10 crore.
Of this, Tk 147.56 crore will come from the government, Tk 1,623.63 crore from foreign financing, and Tk 116.91 crore from EGCB's own resources.
The project is expected to run from July 2025 to June 2028.
Officials said the move corresponds with national plans to boost renewable energy's share in the power mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
It is also designed to help achieve the target of generating 20 percent of Bangladesh's electricity from renewable sources as highlighted in the Integrated Energy and Power Master Plan (IEPMP) 2023.
Under the plan, the government aims to raise renewable capacity to 38 gigawatts by 2050.
The plant's construction will involve installing 469,560 solar PV modules and 26 grid-connected inverters, supported by a 240MVA electrical substation.
It will also include four 230/33kV transformers, auxiliary transformers and a 13.3km second circuit of a 230kV transmission line.
A new GIS bay at the BEZA substation and an AIS bay at EGCB's existing 75MW substation will also be developed to facilitate uninterrupted transmission.
Beyond its electrical infrastructure, the project includes building 6.9km of embankments, laying CC blocks along 2.67km of the southern dyke, excavating and renovating two canals spanning 3km, constructing 10.98km of internal roads, and developing a control room and a five-storey dormitory.
EGCB's journey in developing renewable energy in Sonagazi dates back to 2017, when it acquired 999.65 acres in Purba Bardhali mouza.
